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PRESENTED BY Q£- 



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A TRUE STORY OF REAL LIFE. 



THE 



SOUTHERN HUSBAND OUTWITTED 



BY HIS 



UNION WIFE. 



BY 

MRS. KATE PLAKE, 

OF KENTUCKY. 



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PHILADELPHIA: 
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORESS, 
BY MOORE & BROTHER. 




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THE 



HUSBAND OUTWITTED 



BY HIS 



W I FE 



BY 

MRS. KATE PLAKE 

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OF KENTUCKY. 




PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORESS, 

MOORE & BROTHER. 



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TO THE READER, 



rpHE authoress does not pretend to any elaborate 
JL effort in this narration : her aim being simply 
to give a plain statement of facts connected with 
her own personally eventful career, from early girl- 
hood up almost to the present time. 

Married to a man at an early age, who neglected 
and ill-treated her — divorced — again married — 
persecuted by the malevolence of her relatives, 
and the efforts made to prove her insane, — her 
attempts to support herself and child, — together 
with the many incidents unfolded in the ensuing 
pages, — form a narrative of real life, sufferings, and 
struggles which do not fortunately often fall to the 
lot of her sister women. It was while battling 
thus for her very existence, as it were, that the 
great storm of Rebellion gathered strength and 
rode in wild fury through the Southern States. 

There was a moment's hesitation only, between 
the natural tendency toward the opinions of her 
friends and neighbors, or to side with the cause of 
her country and its flag. That indecision was but 
momentary, however ; and overhearing by accident 
an important interview, her resolution was fixed, 

(vii) 



Vlii TO THE READER. 

and the uncertainty vanished as to the manner in 
which she, a woman, could do her part in support- 
ing the Government in the struggle just beginning 
with the hydra of Rebellion. 

Making her way, after many trials and difficul- 
ties, to the presence of Governor Bramlette of Ken- 
tucky, she unfolded her plans, and receiving his 
countenance and approval, was installed in the 
Secret Service Corps, — the scope of her duties being 
to bring information to the Union authorities of the 
Rebel movements and enterprises, and also to de- 
tect the secret treason that lurked inside our lines 
almost everywhere along the frontier — ready to 
strike its fangs into the hand that it fed from, and 
the Government that unsuspectingly supported it. 

The authoress was furnished with a passport of 
safety, and was also entrusted with the Union 
pass-word. She served in her chosen position 
throughout the war, principally in Kentucky, and 
until by our struggle's glorious termination her 
efforts were no longer needed. She has written 
this little work, and relies on its sale as her only 
means of support for herself and daughter. 



THE HUSBAND OUTWITTED 

BY HIS WIFE. 



CHAPTER I. 

* MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 

IN commencing this story of my life, I shall depart 
from the usual and stereotyped method of giving a 
glowing description of the landscape surrounding me, 
or of writing a panegyric on the "glorious orb of 
day," or drawing fanciful pictures of any kind ; but 
come right to the beginning at once. 

I was born in Bath County, Ky., March 16th, 1838, 
at a place called the Bend of Slate, near the old Forge 
Farm; which is but a short distance from Mount Ster- 
ling. My parents' family consisted of four children — 
James, Nancy, Mary, and myself. 

The story I am about to relate is not made up of 
romance or fiction, but is a plain, unvarnished tale of 
my own individual experience ; to be brief and concise, 
a transcript of my own life. As perhaps the scenes 
of my childhood would prove uninteresting to most of 
my readers, I shall not dwell long on them, contenting 
myself with merely stating briefly a few events, and 
then passing to the stern realities of my bitter life. 
How vividly my mind reverts to the past, and, in fancy 



1G MY childhood's happy home. 

how plainly I can see the dear old home of my child- 
hood days ; the garden and the fields and wild wood ; 
and above all, how plainly I can see the loved ones 
there. My dear mother, in the old and familiar rock- 
ing-chair, her needlework in her lap, and her eyes 
beaming with gentleness and affection ; my generous 
brother and kind sisters, reading or sewing; and to 
complete the group, I myself, free from all sorrow and 
anxiety, — a trusting and unsophisticated little child. 
Although my home was but a rude log hut, I loved it 
none the less for that ; for then there were no ambitious 
aspirations in my heart; and this humble cabin was 
dearer, far dearer to me than the finest palatial man- 
sion would be now. There my happy days began, and 
there, alas! were they ended. In those dear old woods 
I have wandered many a long hour, gathering the early 
daisies and cowslips ; or sat beneath the wide-spreading 
trees, weaving the bright wild roses into a wreath for 
my happy brow. There, on those sweet, green hills I 
loved so much to gather the huckleberries, and watch the 
pretty little birds as they flew from branch to branch 
carolling their sweet wild strains ; or, when the cold 
winds blew, and the snow covered the ground and the 
leafless trees, I took my dogs and roamed over the hills 
and valleys, in search of something for pastime, for 
that was my ideal. 

Well do I remember the giant trees with their wide- 
spreading branches, that were massed through the 
woods and around our old cabin home, when we first 
took up our residence in it. About that time a terrible 
hurricane passed over our portion of Kentucky, deal- 
ing destruction, and in some instances death, in its 
march. But to me it did not appear in its devastating 
form ; but the leaning and lodged trees, and numberless 
pendent branches, which seemed as nature's gymna- 
sium for us happy children, made it appear to me all 
the more beautiful and romantic. My busy hands 



MY CHILDHOOD^ HAPPY HOME. 11 

carried the brush from the yard, cut down the bram- 
bles, tall weeds, and thistles; and in their stead I 
planted fruit-trees, flowers, etc., while the wild rose 
and olive bushes from the woods, together with the 
lovely wild violets and sweet williams, were planted 
promiscuously over the yard. 

My daily routine was to roam at will through the 
woods and over the great hills during the summer's 
warm days; and during the wintry days, bleak and 
dreary, I amused myself by sitting in the corner of our 
humble cot, watching the bright flames dancing up 
from the great stone fireplace, and the blue smoke 
curling and flying through the black, sooty chimney; 
and wondering where all the pretty flames and the 
misty curling smoke went to. O ! well do I recollect 
the air castles I built by that bright, shining fire, and 
wondering if they would ever be realized. But, alas ! 
how changed is everything since then ! Swiftly the 
reminiscences of the past rush over my mind, and in 
fancy I see the family group seated around a cheery 
fire, just as we sat years agone. I can see my mother's 
angelic countenance, as the rays of the firelight beamed 
upon it; and hear the happy voices and merry laughter 
that echoed through the house, as some amusing re- 
cital was told us. I hear the agreeable voices of the 
guests as they propounded enigmas, to hear how readily 
I could repeat them. And the Bible enigma, how well 
do I remember it ! and when I asked that it be repeated, 
my mother said, " I would rather not have it recited 
now." Then, while her face beamed love and affection, 
mingled with a mother's pride, would she turn to me, 
lay a hand on my shoulder, and say : " Katie, mamma 
would like to have you look for it in the Bible your- 
self, and read it ; won't you try to find it now ? " 

Awakening from my slumbers on the morning after 
the scene I have been describing, I exclaimed, — u O, 
mamma, I have had such a queer dream : Methought 



12 my childhood's happy home. 

I was in a lion's carcass, and the bees had filled me 
with honey V 7 My dear mother looked at me, said 
nothing, but smoothed my hair, and shook her head 
deprecatingly. She had predicted in my future some- 
thing fearful from that dream, to know which troubled 
me greatly, — for to me everything seemed bright and 
beautiful, giving not a thought for the morrow, know- 
ing nothing of sorrow or care, and firmly impressed 
with the idea that my after-life would be, as my child- 
hood had been, a joyous and a happy one. 

But, alas ! tho^e bright days have too quickly passed 
away ; childhood's hours have fled too soon, and though 
1 shall never be able to realize them again, they can 
never be effaced from my memory, and the recollec- 
tion of them will always be green in my heart. 

My parents not being blessed with more than a very 
limited share of this world's goods, made it incumbent 
upon us children, when arrived at a suitable age, to 
take some means of keeping the larder full at home ; 
and to this fact am I indebted for being thrown upon 
my own resources at the early age of seventeen, to earn 
a livelihood for myself, and do battle with the bearded 
monster — cold and heartless as he is and was — the 
world. Unfortunately for me, I had an Aunt, — a per- 
fect busybody, who generally knew more about the 
affairs of her friends and neighbors than she did of her 
own; and so extremely wicked were her designs, that she 
never was more happy than when, by the working of her 
venomed tongue, she was blasting the reputation or 
stabbing at the character of some one. Friend or foe, 
none escaped ; and at last I became the victim of her 
aspersion. . 

My Aunt was a Doctress, and resided near Owens- 
ville, Bath Co., Kentucky. She was very anxious that 
I should do her sewing, but was not at all willing to 
remunerate me for services rendered; and I very 
properly refused, feeling I could not afford, with justice 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 13 

to myself, to be charitable in this respect, as I was 
wholly dependent upon my own exertions for a liveli- 
hood. Finding her wishes thwarted, she became very 
much incensed against me, and proceeded to heap her 
maledictions and invective upon my devoted head, and 
to vilify me in the most cruel manner. Knowing that 
I had never inj ured her in any manner, it was an 
enigma to me — the course my Aunt was pursuing ; 
and I now experienced nothing but frowns and hate, 
where I had reason to expect smiles and love. 

"I don't know how Aunt can be so cruel as to try 
to injure my reputation, which she knows full well is 
spotless," I said to my mother one day, in a distressed 
tone ) " and as nothing I can say or do will change 
her course, — reconciliation being out of the question, — 
I am determined to leave home. Perhaps when I am 
gone, she will repent of her actions towards me, and 
probably try to make amends. At all events, I shall 
not be subjected to the humiliation of hearing her sow 
broadcast her calumnies, with no means at hand to 
defend myself. Time, the arbitrator of all things, will 
yet justify me in the eyes of those to whom she (my 
Aunt) has defamed me." 

With this object in view, I went to my eldest sister, 
who was then residing near Howard's Mills, on the 
road leading from Mount Sterling to Mudlick Spring. 
To her 1 told my troubles and anxieties, and acquainted 
her with my intention of seeking a new home, to which 
she readily assented. 

Mrs. Turley, a charitable and humane lady residing 
close by, whom we took into our confidence, and who 
promised to aid me in my new endeavor, a short time 
after introduced me to a Mr. Bonden, a wealthy old 
gentleman of the neighborhood, to whom she highly 
recommended me as a good girl in search of a home. 
Mr. Bonden invited me to call at his house the next 
day, and see Mrs. Bonden ; which I did. This lady 



14 MY childhood's happy home. 

seemed very much pleased with my appearance, and 
after learning a portion of my history, promised that I 
should have a good home with her ; for which I thanked 
her most heartily, telling her she should never have 
reason to regret the confidence then placed in me — a 
perfect stranger. 

I had resided at Mrs. Bonders about five weeks, — 
five of the pleasantest I had spent for many month's 
before,- — and had begun to think that life's darkest page 
had been blotted out from my horoscope, and that now, 
and in the future, everything would be bright and 
beautiful. But my fond expectations were, alas ! 
doomed to be dashed rudely to the ground, for, about 
the time I speak of, I was one day startled by a visit 
from my mother, who requested me to accompany her 
home, giving as her reason for such request that my 
Aunt still persisted in circulating terrible reports about 
me, which my absence tendered to confirm, proof strong 
as holy writ, and that the only way the foul stain could 
be removed from my pure and spotless character, was 
to immediately return home, and let my friends and 
neighbors see for themselves that my Aunt's most 
fiendish reports were false. 

" Great heavens/' I thought, u what motive urges 
this woman, what object can she have in view, what 
aim to be attained, in thus wilfully maligning me, and 
trying to blast, beyond a hope of recovery, the fame 
and character of one who never has in thought, word, 
or deed, knowingly injured a hair of her head ?" 

To me it was an inexplicable mystery; and as I could 
not answer the question, the only relief I found was 
in tears — a woman's solace when all things else fail. 
This was to me the first bitter trial of my life, for the 
pangs I now felt were more poignant than any I after- 
ward experienced, — from the fact of my youth and 
inexperience I had not as yet learned to grapple 
with the monster — world, and felt despondent and 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME, 15 

heart-sick. It was hard to give up my new home, for 
to me it had indeed been a good home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bonden had been very kind, and treated me with all 
the love and affection a child of their own could expect ; 
and the parting from them seemed to sunder ties felt 
only between parents and offspring. 

But my own mother wished it to be so, and to her 
better judgment, though much against my own feelings, 
I yielded, and once again entered my paternal abode. 
On the Sabbath following my arrival at home, I went 
to Saltwell Church. After service, returning home alone, 
I met an acquaintance, Mr. Hamilton, a young man 
residing in our neighborhood, who addressed me in his 
usual abrupt and eccentric manner, as follows, — 

" Miss Kate,* have you any objections to a young 
man, who is not at all inclined to matrimony, going 
home with you." 

I laughingly replied in the negative, and we pursued 
our way together, soon overtaking a cousin of mine, 
who earnestly requested us to accompany her to her 
house, adding that she was aware mother and myself 
were not on the best of terms, but that she was not to 
blame for that, and did not wish any ill feeling to exist 
between herself and me on that account, as she could 
not control her mother's actions. 

" Nor her tongue either/' I added. 

"No, Kate," said she; "would to God I could." 

She also stated that her mother would be absent 
during the balance of the day ; and to please my cousin, 
I very unwisely determined to accompany her home, 
for I did not really blame my cousin, or harbor any 
ill-will against her on her mother's account, knowing 
she was not accountable for her parent's misdeeds. . 

After remaining at her house for some time, and 
just as Mr. Hamilton and myself were preparing to 
leave, my Aunt came in, sneeringly remarking, as she 
saw Mr. Hamilton, that his choice of company would 



16 MY childhood's happy home. 

do him more harm than good. He seemingly paid no 
attention to this venomous fling at myself, or, if he did, 
treated it with silent contempt, which had the effect 
of only further enraging my Aunt. For the succeed- 
ing two years, Mr. Hamilton was my regular and 
only escort to church, and such other places as I visited 
in the meantime, which was a source of great annoy- 
ance to my envious Aunt, who was sorely galled to find 
her efforts thwarted in poisoning this gentleman's mind 
against me. Things went on quietly for a while, Mr. 
Hamilton still waiting upon me. 

One day, sitting together in my mother's house, he 
proposed marriage to me, in his abrupt and brusque 
way. He being the last man in the world from whom I 
had any reason to expect overtures of that kind, — for 
during our two years' intimacy he never broached the 
subject of love in my presence, — I hardly knew what 
to think, and felt a great deal embarrassed. But finally 
coming to myself, I reminded him of the remark he 
made on a certain Sabbath, about two years ago, and 
asked him how he reconciled his present course with 
the argument used then. 

He answered, " Kate, time works many changes. 
Man is a creature of circumstances, and must adapt 
himself to them. What we firmly believe is right to- 
day, — to-morrow, perhaps, we reject, owing to govern- 
ing circumstances, as certainly wrong. My convictions 
have undergone a change, and I should not be held 
accountable for language used two years ago in rela- 
tion to a matter as important to me as this is to-day. I 
wish to get married, settle down, have something to 
love and live for. I love you.. Be my wife, and I think 
we can be happy." 

Most earnestly thanking him for the compliment he 
had paid me, — the greatest a man can offer to any 
woman, — I replied, " that I never could marry him. 
I respected him as a very dear friend, — would be very 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. IT 

sorry to lose his friendship, but I never could enter 
tain sentiments of love — the love which a wife ought 
to feel for a husband — towards him." 

After this interview, a coldness grew up between us, 
at least on his part, for I could not cease to respect him 
as a very dear friend. But a short time after I had 
more than reason to congratulate myself in not return- 
ing his passion and linking my destiny with his, for 
if his love for me had been pure and unselfish, he would 
not have yielded to a first denial so easily, and trans- 
planted his affections so quickly as he did. For he 
made the same professions of love to my cousin a short 
time afterward, with whom he fared no better, she hav- 
ing discarded him for a wealthy old widower, who was 
abetter " catch" in her eyes on that account. Before 
doing this, however, she did not fail to taunt me with 
having supplanted me in the affections of Mr. Hamil- 
ton. But I was willing to let her enjoy this seeming 
triumph, not telling her that I had already discarded 
him. I did tell her, though, that any woman ought to be 
proud of Mr. Hamilton's love, as I believed, where he 
really loved, he would make a good husband. 

It is an old adage that " curses, like chickens, come 
home to roost;" and in my Aunt's case I had ample 
opportunity to see the adage verified, for the injuries 
she had striven to heap upon me recoiled upon her- 
self and family tenfold. My cousin lay sick, upstairs, 
at her brother-in-law's. When I first became aware 
of the fact, I could not repress the smile of satisfaction 
that broke out over my face, but my better nature soon 
asserted its sway, and I felt as deeply for them as 
though they had never tried to injure me. I even 
sympathized deeply with my unfortunate cousin, who, 
having failed to gain the much coveted affections and 
wealth of the widower, now as a last resort tried every 
means to regain the affections of Mr. Hamilton, and 
even affected tears, by covering her eyes with her 
2 



18 my childhood's happy home. 

handkerchief. Although Mr. Hamilton was entirely 
innocent of the sin and shame she endured, it was 
too late to revoke the past, and he could not yield to 
her entreaties in regard to matrimony. Soon after this 
my Aunt started for Cass County, Mo. Upon their 
arrival my Aunt's son wrote to me requesting corre- 
spondence, to which I agreed. We had corresponded 
for some time, when he ceased writing, and I lost all 
trace of him. 

One year had passed, when Mr. Rice, one of our 
neighbors, went to Missouri, and on his return my 
cousin accompanied him and greatly surprised me by 
a visit. He begged pardon for his negligence in not 
writing. In excuse, he alleged that he had been across 
the plains with an Indian trader. He related the 
many adventures through which he had passed ; how 
he came near starving to death, to prevent which, they 
were obliged to kill their oxen ; also, how often he had 
lain on the ground with his boots for a pillow, when 
the rain came down in torrents, not only drenching, 
but almost drowning him. He stated also that the 
trader had with him a woman, who loved and trusted 
him, whom he sold, together with her three innocent 
children, to the wild and savage Indians, never more 
to return to their native land. 

Such were the wretches with whom he was associ- 
ated : who for a paltry sum could sell their own flesh 
and blood, to be slaves to the savage hordes who 
inhabit the western wilds. It seems my cousin could 
not ingratiate himself with those traders so as to become 
popular among them ; therefore tried to expose them 
merely for revenge. 

% He came home in destitute circumstances after all 
his hardships, having been cheated out of his wages 
which I doubt not was the truth. I soon learned the 
object of his visit. He told me in his usual whining 
pining sing-song way, how he had loved me from 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 19 

childhood, and could not endure life without me, &c. 
adding, that he had land in the State of Kansas, and 
was prepared to settle. He built a great many air- 
castles, and held out many luring inducements and 
fair promises. Alas for the deceit of man ! 

It never occurred to me to doubt my cousin's asser- 
tions, so I listened, enraptured, whilst he erected hun- 
dreds of air-castles. 

But enough! Suffice it to say, we were married, 
December 5, 1858, near Howard's Mills, Montgomery 
County, Kentucky. Early in March we started for 
Missouri. On arriving at Cincinnati, he lacked a small 
amount of bearing our expenses. Then he concluded 
to go to Lawrenceburg, Indiana. We did so, and on 
arriving there stopped at Fich's Hotel, and engaged 
board at one dollar and fifty cents apiece per week. 
My husband had stopped there to earn money enough 
to pay our way to Missouri, and so I thought I would 
rather earn a dollar and fifty cents than to see it paid 
out, and with this conclusion sought the landlady, and 
asked her for sewing. She gave me all she had, and 
paid me my price when done. Then I engaged to sew 
for Mrs. Gasly. One day my husband came in and 
asked me for the key of my trunk. When I found he 
was in earnest, I refused, thinking he was a little too 
presuming, if he was my husband. Then he told me 
he wanted my pocket-book, and to be quick or he 
would break the trunk open. 

This was high authority! I then inquired if he 
had spent all the money he had when we started; for 
I knew he had no other expenses except to pay 
for his board ; — as for mine, I had paid for it by 
sewing. (The money I had in my pocket-book was 
a parting gift from my dear mother, which she 
advised me to keep till I got into trouble, which she 
predicted would not be far distant ; and I determined 
to do as she told me.) I knew then for the first time 



20 MY childhood's happy home. 

that he had the disposition of his mother, and thought 
it would be wrong and make matters worse for me to 
humor him. We went to my room and I took the 
pocket-book out of my trunk ; he said nothing, think- 
ing I intended to give it to him, but to his disappoint- 
ment I went out and gave it to Mrs. Gasly for safe- 
keeping. In giving her an explanation why I wished 
her to take care of it, of course I disclosed to her that 
my husband had spent his money. 

The next morning Mr. Fich called on Mr. Griffin 
(my husband) for his board; but, as before stated, he 
had spent his money, consequently he could not pay 
him. He had done nothing while at this place except 
to nail on about two thousand shingles, lapping them 
all the wrong way, which I learned by Mrs. Fich 
coming to my room and asking my husband's occupa- 
tion. I told her he was a farmer. She said that 
Griffin had imposed himself on her son for a carpenter. 
I did not say anything to him that evening ; he noticed 
my dejection and asked the cause. I told him I was 
thinking about going home to Kentucky. 

"What in the name of God is the matter?" he 
exclaimed. 

" Why, I mean, if you are not going to pursue a 
different course, I had better return to my friends." 

" What have I been doing wrong?" he exclaimed. 

" Do you intend me to support you with my needle ? " 
I said. 

" He replied that he knew no other way, for Mr. 
Fich was going to charge all his wages for the shingles 
spoiled." 

" Well," said I, "you know that pulling them off 
after being nailed would destroy them. You cannot 
expect him to lose the shingles and allow you the 
same amount per day as though you had done the 
work right. You have spent all your money foolishly 
since you have been here, and it seems to me you 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 21 

expect me to make our whole support. I intend to do 
all I can to help make a living ; but I had no idea 
when we were married that you would expect such a 
thing of me as this ! " 

Then he requested me to tell him what to do, and he 
would do it. 

" I think it would be best for you to go to the coun- 
try and obtain work on a farm ; you know you are a 
farmer," was my advice. 

The next morning he started to the country to work 
for a man, but when ready, he had no money to hire a 
hack ; so I gave him the money I had been sewing for 
— and also some money that my mother gave me — 
and told him to hire a hack, and buy the necessary 
articles of clothing that he needed, and not to spend 
the rest till he needed it. " Why ? why ? V he asked. 
But I did not say why ; I did not say anything ; but, 
oh ! I thought my heart was breaking ; and the great 
knots were swelling in my throat, and I could not 
answer. I saw my future ; and had I been resolute 
enough then to have gone home, how much better it 
would have been for me ! I thought of it and pondered 
many long days and nights. But it is no easy task for 
a woman to leave her husband, even if she be resigned 
to the separation. If her husband is disposed to dis- 
pute her authority, she is just like a slave, subject to 
all his selfish interrogations, as, " Why are you not 
content with this, that, or the other ? " and then he 
looks unutterables on hearing her responses ) and if she 
leave, he will follow her and command her to return 
home, just as if she were his property sure enough. 
This I knew my husband would do, and I loved him 
and could not endure the idea of being harassed by 
him. Had I been sure I should never have seen him, 
I should have gone ; for I saw too plainly my darkened 
future, and shuddered at the vision. I prepared to go 
with him, and packed some of our clothes; the rest 



22 MY childhood's happy home. 

we left with the landlord till he could pay the seven 
dollars board he owed. In a few hours we arrived at 
our temporary home, and my husband and the gentle- 
man walked out to view the farm and form plans for 
the work. I was anxious to start for Missouri, and 
thought if I could pay my own board he could save 
money so much sooner to defray our expenses. So 
I asked the lady. I told her if she could give me as 
much sewing as would pay my board, I should be will- 
ing to do it, as I had nothing to engage me. She was 
pleased with the proposition and said it would suit her 
better than the money, as she had sore eyes. We 
soon had money enough to make another start, and so 
I told her I would pay my board till I arranged our 
clothes for that purpose. But she declared she must 
have her sewing done, and said she would acquaint my 
husband and have him force me to do it. I thought I 
was besieged by everything that was evil. The family 
were accustomed to having worship, but I refused to 
attend on this evening, telling them I could pray for 
myself. I felt discouraged with everything, and I 
called my husband to my room and told him all that 
had occurred during his absence, and requested him 
to get another boarding-house for me till we could get 
ready to start. " You have been a good wife to me," 
he said, " and none shall impose on you while I live." 
He then went to Mr. Small's to get board for me, 
which he succeeded in doing, and had a hack in readi- 
ness, when the lady made her appearance at the door. 
u Had you not better thank me for my generosity in 
taking you in as a stranger ? " 

" Perhaps the obligation is on the other side," I 
returned. 

" Well, well," she interrupted, " if you do not stay 
as long as I wish you to, I shall not pay you for what 
you have done." 

" There may be something in our laws that will 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 23 

compel you," I returned, as I rushed from the house 
to the hack, through a drenching rain, feeling as one 
who was escaping from prison. 

" I do not wish you to leave my house as though you 
were obliged to," she called ; but I was gone. 

What a change to get to Mr. Small's ! I felt as if I 
was in paradise — they were so kind. In two weeks 
my husband received the money due him and me, and 
then he announced his intention of visiting Aurora, a 
small town in Indiana. I called him back, and put my 
arms around his neck, determined to win him from 
temptation, if possible, by affection, and said, — 

"Dear husband, don't go; you know your failing, 
and must not spend your money. I am sure you have 
had trouble enough. Take my advice this time, and 
don't go." 

" I shall not spend it at all," he declared, as he 
released himself from my arms and walked off. 

That promise was easily made, but not so easily kept ; 
and when in the evening he started home, Aurora 
possessed half his money. 

In August we went to Aurora ; and after he had paid 
his board-bill to Fich, we got on a boat and started for 
Kansas City. Our means being limited, we were forced 
to take deck passage; and oh ! I can never express my 
feelings as I stood on the dingy deck of that boat — 
among the rude class that took passage there because 
they were either too poor to take first-class fare, or did 
not care — and thought how I was leaving all that was 
dear to me, and going to a strange, wild country; and 
with one, too, who did not love me as a man should 
love the wife who has given up every friend on earth 
to follow him. Some strange and wild thoughts forced 
themselves on my mind ; but I indulged in them only 
a moment, and then resolved that I had taken him for 
better or for worse, and would do the best I could. 

After a weary journey we arrived at Kansas City, 
and he hired a carriage to take us to his mother's. 



24 MY childhood's happy home. 

" Do not take me to your mother's," I pleaded ) " 1 
am sure we shall never be happy. We did not speak 
when last we met ; how can I go to her house ? " 

" Oh, Kate," he said, impatiently, "there will be no 
difficulty at all. I only wish you to treat mother with 
respect." 

I was sure of having a home in Kansas — and so I 
told him — and that I did not think that he would wish 
me to go to his mother's. But I found he was inex- 
orable. I had placed myself in his hands, and now I 
had as well follow patiently his will. 

We started, and I fell into a profound reverie. My 
heart was not in that wild wood ; it had wandered back 
to my early home, and was there with the loved ones ; 
for although I loved my husband, I had lost confidence 
in him, and I felt as the maniac who wanders at random — 
I knew not where I was going till I had started. At 
length I was aroused from my musings by my husband's 
voice, and I was astonished to see the sun had set, and 
the cold gray twilight had enveloped the earth. It was 
a gloomy road, and every minute the gloom grew more 
intense. There were very many meanderings in the 
road, on each side of which were thick woods, closely 
interspersed with underbrush and foliage, while the 
tops of the great trees canopied the way, entirely ex- 
cluding what little light there was, and permitting us 
only to catch an occasional glimpse of a twinkling star 
through small openings in the foliage. The whippoor- 
will's shrill note came out on the still night-air, and 
was mournfully answered by one in the distance — then 
another, and another, till there seemed to be ten thou- 
sand of these night- warblers carolling the same lonesome, 
melancholy strain. Just then we came to a very dark 
turn in the road, and as the faithful animal pursued 
his way unguided, I imagined I saw some horrid-look- 
ing men crouched beneath the underbrush that skirted 
the road. I was too much frightened to speak, so I 



MY CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 25 

only clung nearer to my husband, who seemed dearer 
to me in this wild place than ever before — and fool- 
ishly felt more safe. Just then a cony rushed from the 
thicket and ran across the road, and an owl settled 
down, with his dull too-hoo, on the limb of an old dead 
tree just above our heads, the fragments of a small 
branch falling in my lap. A moment after I was 
abashed at my own weakness, and thought I would 
overcome it; but that weakness soon returned as the 
darkness grew denser and the windings in the road 
more frequent and rugged. The tired horse lagged, 
not seeming to like the gloom any better than we. My 
husband felt the gloom as well as I, and sought to alle- 
viate it by singing, in a clear tenor voice, " Home, 
sweet Home," which sounded to me wholly in unison 
with the solemn notes of the night-birds ; and when he 
concluded the first verse, I begged him to keep still. 

Our way became very difficult to find, and, coming 
in sight of a rude log hut, we determined to tarry 
there over night, if permission could be obtained. We 
drove up to the fence, and he called aloud several times 
before a response came. Then a woman made her ap- 
pearance — told us she could only give us lodging, and 
said, as she was alone with her little children, she did 
not wish to answer at first. We occupied the same 
room she did — it being only a rickety old hut or cabin. 

At a late hour in the night I was startled by the 
light of a candle shining full in my face. On looking, 
I saw two suspicious-looking men standing in the door 
with a huge knife, which they were examining. 

I hurriedly awoke my husband, and he grasped his 
pistols, thinking he was about to be robbed. But they 
excused themselves by asserting that they were prepar- 
ing to start on a hunting excursion. Be this as it may, 
the rest of the night was spent in restless suspense, and 
we made our exit early on the following morning. At 
two o'clock we reached his mother's, and she met us 



26 advice' to girls. 

with open arms, and so kindly that I began to think 
that perhaps I might live there in some degree of hap- 
piness. Bnt this hallucination was soon discovered 
and I realized my destiny just as I did in my first con- 
templation. 



CHAPTER II. 

ADVICE TO GIRLS — NEVER LIVE WITH YOUR 
MOTHER-IN-LAW. 

MY mother-in-law met us at the gate with open 
arms, to receive us. It was a glorious day in sum- 
mer; the sky of unsullied blue seemed to smile upon us 
in all its pristine beauty. Not a leaf rustled or a breeze 
whispered to mar the serenity of this sweet repose. 

My mother-in-law gazed on me with a longing eye, 
and as I returned the gaze, I felt a cold chill creep 
all through my veins and settle down upon my 
heart. Oh ! how I missed the genial warmth and 
out-gushing love which I was accustomed to receive 
from my own dear mother, and all the loveliness 
which surrounded her happy home. I could but be 
silent for a time. The bitter, bitter feelings of regret 
seemed to come surging up from my heart and 
threatened to deluge me in tears. With a great 
effort at self-control I tried to be agreeable. I imagined 
at first, that my mother-in-law had learned to curb 
her temper. But, alas ! I too soon learned that she 
was the same she used to be : this was a grievous trial 
to me. I resolved to bear it all patiently. The house 
was near the road leading from Paoli City, Kansas, to 
Cold Water Grove, Missouri. 

My mother-in-law's apparent kindness soon ceased, 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 2T 

and I became the offcast of the family, the servant of 
them all. 

I learned, to my horror, by my mother-in-law, not 
long after my arrival there, that my husband had 
completely deceived me in everything he represented ; 
he had no horses, his land in Kansas had been sold for 
debt, and he had borrowed sixty dollars from Mr. 
Rice to pay his expenses to Kentucky, which was and 
ever would be unpaid ; that he could not support a 
wife, and would be compelled to live with her. My 
mother-in-law took in strangers and travellers, which 
very much increased the household duties, the most 
of which devolved upon me. I bore these burdens 
patiently for a time, flattering myself that we should 
soon go to housekeeping. But now I was completely 
disheartened; notwithstanding, I did not despair. One 
evening I persuaded my husband to take a walk with 
me, that I might have a chance of speaking to him, 
unheard by any other, in reference to housekeeping. 

" Can we not go to housekeeping ? " I interrogated, 
when we had walked a short distance from the house. 

" Go to housekeeping, indeed ! " he repeated with 
astonishment. " How can you presume such a ridicu- 
lous thing? Where is anything to commence with? 
I am sure you must be insane." 

" Oh no, I am not," I pleaded ; " I know we have 
nothing to commence with, as you say, but we can get 
something; we can soon earn something. I am not 
afraid to work." 

u Nonsense, nonsense," said he; " I am not going to 
discommode myself to do anything of the kind." 

" But we can never live happily here," I suggested. 

" As for the happiness, we are just as well off here. 
I am satisfied we can do no better. I am not at 
all incumbered with work here, which, you know, is 
quite a bore to me ; and I have not the least idea of 
relinquishing such a comfortable position, just to please 
you." 



28 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

" But, my dear husband," I interrupted, "just think 
of the innumerable duties that are incumbent on me ; 
all of which are indispensably necessary for me to per- 
form in order to keep peace." 

" Yes, to be sure, Kate, your duties are a little 
arduous ; but you don't seem to mind it." 

"No, I have not," I haughtily retorted, "because I 
was in hopes we should soon go away, and it was very 
bearable for a time ; but now I feel I have quietly sub- 
mitted as long as possible;" and I cried aloud with 
vexation and disappointment. 

u Pshaw ! Kate ; there is no call for all those tears, 
and I wish them dispensed with immediately. I am 
quite sure, were we housekeeping, you would find just 
as much to busy yourself about as here. Your dispo- 
sition is just the reverse of mine : you can amuse your- 
self with work, while I detest it ; you seem happier 
while thus engaged, while I am thoroughly disgusted ; 
so come now, Kate, I know you too well to indulge in 
the faintest idea that the labor avails anything with 
you." 

" But I can not, I will not live here," I declared. 

" What do you propose to do ? " he demanded. 

" Anything, anything," I answered, " is preferable 
to living here." 

• a I wish you did not have quite so much head," he 
ejaculated impatiently. " Why are you not, like other 
women, content with the home your husband gives 
you, and submit yourself patiently to the disposition 
he makes. God gave man more wisdom than woman ; 
and every good woman, knowing this, will be submis- 
sive and wholly resigned to her husband's better judg- 
ment." 

This speech made me indignant, and called forth a 
fresh gush of tears. I knew God originally gave man 
more wisdom than woman, but I could not bring myself 
to think at that time that his wisdom exceeded mine ; 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 29 

for I- believed it deficient. But I did not say so; I did 
not say anything ; I only felt that man exercised a 
great deal more power than God ever commissioned 
him to, and that I had made a mistake my whole life 
could not recall. 

" This weeping is a great source of annoyance to 
me," continued my husband, " and I wish you to cease 
right away. There is no use of further supplication, 
for my resolution is irrevocably fixed. I shall remain 
here; so there's an end to it! But, Kate," he said, 
softening his tone a little and drawing me toward him, 
" I expect you are a little homesick, but you will feel 
better by-and-by. Don't give up to such reflections." 

I was homesick, but his softening tone did not 
console me any, and I involuntarily shrunk from his 
embrace with disgust. He noticed my feelings, and 
turned away with a slightly heightened color, mentally 
terming me, to himself, " vixen ! " and his countenance 
assumed a haughtier air as we walked on in silence. 

At length I broke the silence by saying, " Shall we 
not at least make an eifort ? If we never try, we will 
never do anything ; and surely we need not wait with 
the expectation of manna falling, by which we may 
become enriched. Our happiness depends upon our 
own exertions, not upon others'; and oh ! I am sure we 
shall never be happy here." My husband sneered con- 
temptuously at this last remark, and I quietly ventured, 
" Heaven helps those that help themselves." I do not 
wish to speak any more disrespectfully of him than he 
merits, but I must say he expressed his contempt for 
my last remark by something between the grunt of a 
pig and the growl of a dog. 

I did not feel disposed to continue this exasperating 
and fruitless discussion ; neither did he, and the silence 
was not broken till we reached home. 

" Oh, mother ! " exclaimed my husband, on entering 
the house, " Kate has been almost tormenting me to 



30 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

death to go to housekeeping, and we can't, can we ? '' 
and he looked at his mother just as a spoiled child 
who was asking something very inconsistently, but 
nevertheless sure of getting it. 

" You can not — of course you can not," responded 
his mother ; "the idea is perfectly preposterous ! and 
I am astonished beyond measure. Truly, Kate's dis- 
cretion is not worth a fig ! You are not competent to 
dictate for yourselves in the smallest matter. Now, 
let this twiddle-twaddle abate altogether." 

My husband assumed the air of a conqueror as he 
triumphantly glanced from his mother to me. I met 
his glance with a look of defiance. I could endure my 
husband's tyranny, for I loved him; but when I 
realized that there was an umpire, I felt the hot blood 
rush to my cheeks; and, being unable to control 
myself, I burst forth in language expressive of my 
indignation. 

"That will do, Kate," commanded my husband; 
" that will do. I am not prepared to hear such mur- 
murings from you. It is very unbecoming and impru- 
dent; besides, I shall not allow it. I told you we 
were to remain here — I thought you understood it. 
Why this idle murmuring? Mother knows best, and 
you are in duty bound to observe this and obey her 
injunctions, like a good child. And if you do not feel 
disposed to comply more readily and willingly with 
her wishes, I shall have to be under the disagreeable 
necessity of compelling you to !" 

Of all the horrible thoughts and agonizing feelings 
that ever torture woman's soul, I think it must be 
while listening to such vituperation and reproach as 
this from the lips of a husband. I admit that it is 
often necessary, and even right, for the husband to 
reprove his wife, — for animadversion at times will not 
injure any of us, — but if he can not exercise as much 
compassion with her as a mother monkey would, then 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 31 

he had better go to the wilderness, where he will have 
free scope to exercise his power and exhibit his turpi- 
tude without breaking any hearts. 

Finding all my efforts abortive to convince him of 
the impropriety of remaining there, I concluded to be 
patient for the time being, and tried to put aside all 
thoughts of discontent. Time passed on, but brought 
no change for me. I was invariably passed off for the 
hired girl ; scolded, and even accused of stealing. 

I could not endure it all patiently. One night, after 
I had finished a large washing, two strange gentlemen 
called, and wished to stay all night. I was in the habit 
of arranging supper with great taste, in order to draw 
custom, so they might make more money; but I was 
never recompensed with a kind word, a pleasant look, 
or even a smile from any of the family. 

As I was wearily arranging the washing apparatus, 
I overheard mother-in-law remarking something about 
her hired girl (meaning myself, as there was no other 
girl about the house). Just then my husband entered 
the kitchen. I said pleasantly, " Please build a fire to 
get supper — there is no wood cut." He turned away 
indifferently, and said, " Tell Harve to." I asked Harve, 
and he replied, " Tell Frank to." I thought I could 
not cut wood, build the fire, and get supper too, when 
so nearly exhausted with my day's work, and all the 
boys lounging around ; so I called on each one separately, 
until the fourth — the youngest — had been called on, 
but invariably received the same answer — to tell some 
one else to do it, — when mother-in-law came to order 
supper. I respectfully said to her, " Please to have 
a fire made." " Get one made the best way you can," 
was her quick response, — just as though she thought 
me obliged to cook it any way, which I always had 
done in the quickest manner. As she left the kitchen 
with a most contemptible hauteur, she exclaimed, 
" Now hurry, Kate : those are nice gentlemen ; they are 
both from Kentucky." 



32 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

My only answer was, " I'll do my part toward supper." 
As 1 was very tired, I determined I would not cut the 
wood, and build the fire, for those four good-for-nothing, 
lazy boys. So I made some nice corn-bread and bis- 
cuit, and placed them in the oven ; filled the coffee-pot 
with cold water, cut some ham, put it in a vessel, and 
placed both on the cold stove ; then I deliberately seated 
myself by the light to sew. After waiting an unusual 
length of time, and no sign of supper, my mother-in- 
law appeared at the door, and blandly asked, " Is it not 
time to set the table?" " Set it whenever you want 
to," I replied. Then she leisurely walked in, opened 
the oven-door, said " the bread does not brown any," 
and returned to finish her t$te-d-tete with the gen- 
tlemen. In a few moments she reappeared, and speak- 
ing with some surprise, said, " Supper not ready yet ? " 
and as before went to the stove and opened the oven- 
door, exclaiming, " It is strange the bread don't brown; " 
then she opened the stove-door to stir the fire, when, lo ! 
to her great consternation, — there was not a spark of 
fire. This aroused her indignation to the highest pitch ; 
she glared her malicious eyes on me and commenced 
her usual tirade of abuse. I silently arose and left 
her " to get the fire made the best way she could." 

She then ordered my husband to build a fire. 
Imagine her chagrin as the bread was placed on the 
table in a semi-baked condition, owing to the gradual 
heating of the stove. It looked as though it had been 
sun-dried — full of great cracks as it was. She threw 
herself in a chair, near the table, with a grunt declaring 
"she had rather cook supper herself than have such as 
this." 

" Do it yourself," said I, " you have no one else to 
do it for you. This is what you get for putting on 
airs ; representing me as your hired girl. I am your 
own son's wife, and do not think it any credit either : 
it was the worst day's work that I ever did when I 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 33 

married him ; and if there is no alteration in him for 
the better soon, I intend to get rid of a ' bad bargain/ 
(she often said she made a bad bargain when she mar- 
ried, and stuck to it.) So you had better keep quiet, 
— giving her a meaning glance, — if you do not want 
me to give the whole pedigree of your family." Then 
directing my conversation to the guests, I continued : 
" Whatever I do once, is left forme to do all the time ; I 
am ordered about like the veriest servant. I generally 
try to get along the best I can, by submitting patiently, 
to avoid all the discord I possibly can. But when im- 
position is added to imposition, insults and abuse, in 
endless variety, until patience ceases to be a virtue ; 
and to-night when she (whom I consider, if anything, 
my inferior in every respect) capped the climax by 
representing me to you as her hired girl) my human 
nature could endure it no longer. Therefore, gentle- 
men, I hope you will excuse me. I was not taught to 
discuss family affairs in the presence of strangers; but 
as they were not introduced by me, I hope you will par- 
don me for this impropriety — if so it may be called — 
for, as I said before, I could endure it no longer." I 
ceased speaking, and supper was concluded in silence. 
Thus time passed wearily along, but brought no 
change to me ; besides my own trials, I was obliged to 
witness continual scenes of discord in the family. And 
at last, when I became sick, it was almost unendurable. 
My mother-in-law, to be sure, had a great deal to vex 
her, and no patience or self-control. One day she 
became exceedingly exasperated with my husband, and 
man that he was, almost whipped him ; she seized him 
by the hair with both hands and started toward the 
door, when some of the other members of the family tried 
to separate them ; but she succeeded in getting him 
out, and commanded him to leave the house. In a 
moment I heard the report of a pistol, and thinking 
that my husbaud was shot, I sprang from the bed and 
3 



34 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

ran to the door in great fright. My mother-in-law see- 
ing ine, screamed to me to go back to bed ; it would 
kill me to expose myself so; that no one was hurt; 
that my husband had the gun to shoot her with. My 
child was then only three days old. I succeeded in 
getting some one to call him to me before he left, and 
I told him I would not stay if he left. He told me he 
would go and obtain a place for me to board, and return 
for me. " Indeed you shall not take her away while 
sick," declared my mother-in-law; and she overruled 
him, and I was obliged to stay. 

Two weary weeks passed before I was able to sit up, 
and then I took cold by occupying a damp room, and 
was sick just as long again. When I recovered so as 
to be able to sit up again, my mother-in-law told me I 
must be housekeeper, as she anticipated going to stay 
with a sick lady. The household duties were arduous, 
and I was overtasked ; and again I was thrown back 
wnd was sick for six weeks, and perhaps should have 
perished had it not been for Mrs. Kennet, the lady that 
lived in the other end of the house. She was very kind 
to me, and did all she could for my comfort. I was 
just able to sit up again when my mother-in-law came 
home, and was almost driven to distraction by hearing 
her dissatisfied and contemptuous complaints in reference 
to the neglect of the house and other necessary things 
that should have been done, but which was quite im- 
possible for me to accomplish under the circumstances, 
I being so very weak from my severe and protracted 
illness, and no one to do anything to help me, but the 
boys, who did not know how to do anything, scarcely, 
had they been ever so much inclined. She scolded 
and stormed ; told me there was nothing the matter of 
me, only deceit; that it was all an excuse to get rid of 
the work. I made no reply, but could not help wish- 
ing in my heart, that something might happen her, 
that she might suffei only half as much as I had. I 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 35 

resolved to let her wait on herself; that I would not 
make myself sick again by over- work, let her say what 
she would. 

My husband spent all his time for her, and was doing 
nothing toward our support — independent of her. I 
determined, if ever I got able, and my husband would 
not go to himself, to hire out somewhere as a seamstress. 
Soon after this my mother-in-law started for Kansas. 
The ground being covered with sleet, she accidentally 
fell, broke her arm, and put her wrist out of place. 
She came home in the morning in a great deal of pain, 
and told me how it happened. I was truly sorry — she 
seemed to be suffering so much; and I dressed the 
wound as tenderly as possible, pinned on her clothes, 
and washed her face and hands. She cried, and I 
thought perhaps I was not quite tender enough, and 
asked her if I hurt her. #l No, no," she answered, 
" no one could be more tender." Perhaps she was 
thinking of her treatment of me. 

As soon as I had recovered sufficiently to resume my 
labor, she commenced to take in boarders again. One 
evening, as I was sitting in the door, I noticed two men 
coming in the gate. They asked for lodging for the 
night. " You can get lodging at Mrs. Rennet's," I 
said, and then went in, where mother-in-law was ready 
to lecture me for sending them away. But I did not 
mind it much — it was too common a thing. My 
mother-in-law moved the next day, but I did not go 
with her ; I remained with Mrs. Kennet. My husband 
also remained there, having entered into an agreement 
to work for Mr. Kennet. We remained there two 
months, and then went to housekeeping. My husband 
was very kind to me until I became sick. Then his 
mother told him I would never be well again ; would 
only be an expense on his hands; and that it would be 
a good thing if he was rid of me. One day he went 
after his mother. I begged him not to go for her ; I 



36 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

did not wish to see her; but he paid no attention to me, 
and went right along. I had just arisen for the girl to 
arrange my bed, when she came in. 

" Let me smooth your hair while sitting up," she 
suggested. 

" No, no, thank you," I replied ; " I feel quite sick; 
I must return to the bed." 

".Why did you send for me ? " she angrily demanded. 

" I did not," responded I; u my husband did it, and 
not I." 

She then angrily smote me in the face, and glanced 
at the gun, trying to frighten me, and asked if it was 
loaded. 

" You shall not do that," said my husband ; " you 
will get into trouble. I will fix it satisfactorily for you 
some day." 

I gradually grew worse ; and one day, while alone 
with my husband, I asked him for a drink. 

" They have just brought fresh water in the next 
house," he answered; " and I will get you a drink in 
a moment." He took a pitcher, and was gone so long 
that my thirst was great when he returned with it. I 
took a hearty drink, but it did not alleviate my thirst 
in the least, and I kept constantly asking for more. 
My stomach began to burn. 1 turned blind and frothed 
at the mouth. I thought I was suffocating, and raised 
up in the bed. Then he came and forced me back in 
bed, and held me there till I told him I would scream 
if he did not release me — that I believed I was poisoned. 
He released me, and turned away with a condemned 
countenance. I managed to make my way into the 
other house. There was no one there but a little girl, 
twelve years old, who gave me a chair. Just then Mr. 
and Mrs. Davidson came home, and they asked me what 
was the matter — if I felt worse ? 

" I believe I have been poisoned," I answered. " I 
can not see, and am almost suffocated with the foam 
that comes in my mouth." 



ADVICE TO GIRLS. 37 

She immediately placed a bed on the floor, where I 
could get the fresh air, and made a very strong cup of 
tea, and gave me a batter-cake swimming in butter, 
which she said would perhaps destroy the poison; and 
which certainly helped me, for I ceased to froth at the 
mouth, and soon felt better. My husband was all atten- 
tion, and said he would get a doctor ; and late in the 
night he returned with one. I do not remember much 
that transpired that night, only that I was aroused fre- 
quently to take medicine. The next morning I was 
removed to my own room, and left alone with my hus- 
band. He gave me two doses of medicine that morn- 
ing, and I became thirsty, as before. He immediately 
noticed it, and hastily said, " I must go to Harrison- 
ville ; and when I have been gone an hour, you must 
take the other dose." 

I was not quite certain that I had taken poison from 
his hand. I was frightened on the preceding day, 
and thought so then ; but he had been so kind to me 
since that I could not believe it now, and tried to bring 
myself to think that I had done very wrong in sus- 
pecting him for such an incredible thing. My thirst 
increased, and the time came for me to take my medi- 
cine. He gave me two doses of medicine, and then 
noticing my thirst increasing he again said, a I am 
going to Harrisonville, and when I am gone one hour, 
you must take the other dose. Don't put it in the cup 
first, but pour in cold coffee and mix in the medicine. 
I put it in a cup to mix it, and observing its green 
appearance, thought I would not take it; it looked 
like blue-stone and quicksilver, and something white 
was mixed with it. On taking another drink, I com- 
menced to froth at the mouth, and then I felt sure 
that I had again taken poison. 

u I shall not stay with my husband," I soliloquized 
bitterly to myself. " There is a better way to get rid 
of me than to poison me ; " and after pondering a while, 



38 ADVICE TO GIRLS. 

I told the girl that was staying with me to assist me to 
Mr. Meed's, — that I had business there, and must go. 
The girl looked at me searchingly, as if to determine 
whether I was insane or not ; and then, half murmur- 
ingly, she did as I requested. 

It was but a short distance "to Mrs. Meed's, but I 
thought I should never reach there, being obliged to 
recline on the ground several times. I was so ex- 
hausted when I reached there that I could hardly speak. 
She did not recognize me ; but on being informed by 
the hired girl who I was, she asked me in and gave 
me a chair. 

" Mrs. Meed/' I commenced, " I believe I have 
twice taken poison from my husband, and I do not 
wish to stay with him any longer. I want to go home 
to Kentucky just as soon as I am sufficiently recovered ; 
and I have sought your hospitality to ascertain if I 
may be permitted to stay here until I am somewhat 
recovered." 

She kindly consented for me to stay, which took 
quite a load from my mind f and I was thinking of 
home and the loved ones there, almost oblivious of my 
trouble, when my husband came in. He requested 
me to go home ; but I would not go home — he could 
not persuade me. 

Mrs. Turley, a lady from Kentucky, lived but a 
short distance, and I thought could I only get there, 
how much better it would be, as she was an old friend, 
and would term me no incumbrance. So I suggested 
this idea, and Mr. Meed advised my husband to get a 
conveyance and take me there. He acceded to this 
proposal, and in the eveuing I started with him to go 
there. He had my trunks in the carriage; also a box 
containing his razors. When we arrived at the cross- 
roads, instead of proceeding on the road leading to 
Mrs. Turley's, he turned into the one leading to his half- 
brother's. 



AT MRS. TURLEY'S. 39 

"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded; 
" surely you do not intend to take me to your bro- 
ther's?" 

" You are my wife," he answered; " I shall do just 
as I feel disposed ; if I choose to kill you, I shall do it." 

" But I shall not go there," I declared, now wholly 
exasperated; and taking the razors from the box, I 
told him I would kill him rather than go there. He 
was driving, having the child on his lap ; and, under- 
standing me rightly, he jumped out of the carriage, 
with the child in his arms. It was but a short dis- 
tance to Mrs. Turley's, and as I was afraid to drive 
the horses, I tried to walk ; but I soon became exhaust- 
ed and was obliged to lie down, till observed by some 
of the family, who assisted me to the house. There 
was some one of the family sick ; and a doctor being 
there, he also prescribed for me, and I received all 
possible attention. Feeling much better on the fol- 
lowing morning, I asked for my child. 

"She is with a lady, who will take good care of 
her," replied Mrs. Turley. "You can not have her; 
your husband told me you took a razor to cut her 
head off. How can you presume to ask for her ? — 
you know well that you are not competent to raise her. 
You are an Abolitionist, too. I don't care, for my 
part, what they do with you; but," she continued, 
" to satisfy you, I will tell you that your mother-in-law 
has your child." 

Death and distraction ! The idea of myself killing 
my own child — that they should believe it ! I had 
always regarded Mrs. Turley as a true friend, but now 
I was convinced of my error. I felt confounded and 
almost senseless. " I am an Abolitionist, too ! " I 
pondered; " I wonder what that means." I hardly 
knew what the word meant, and truly could not im- 
agine what there could be so terrible (as she seemed to 
think) in that common noun — I not once imagining 
that a political party was represented by it. 



40 THE CARRIAGE RIDE. 

I was quite alone now, — the last friend turned 
enemy, and my child taken from me. But we will 
pass over the recital of these reflections. In a few 
days Mr. Rice, my husband's friend, came there ; and 
while conversing, he asked if I would like to have a 
carriage-ride. 

"Oh, yes!" I eagerly replied. " I want to go to 
Mr. Grinter's, and ask Mat to intercede with my hus- 
band to let me see my child." 

" Very well," he replied, and we started for the 
carriage. 

In passing the front door, I observed my mother-in- 
law conversing in low tones with Mrs. Turley, and it in- 
stantly flashed over my mind that there was some in- 
trigue in the matter ; but I had started, and I resolved 
not to turn back. When seated in the carriage, my 
mother-in-law called on us to wait a moment for her. 
I saw now what they were up to, and, seizing the reins 
myself, drove off. At last, Rice got the reins in his 
own hands, and, despite my efforts, drove to my 
mother-in-law's house, and then laughingly told me 
that I had better go and see my child. I did not wish 
to go into her house ; still I wanted to see my little 
child so badly that I did not hesitate, but went in di- 
rectly. I found the child sitting on the floor, playing, 
and looking so pale that I could hardly believe it was 
my little Myrtle — she having so much changed in so 
short a time. By-and-by my mother-in-law came in 
and scolded Mr. Rice a good deal for leaving her to 
walk so far. 

" Well, well," I overheard him say, " I found I 
should have a great deal of trouble to get her here if 
I waited, and thought it better to go on." 

My child was just nine months old then, and it was 
hard for me — oh, so hard — to leave her; but I could 
not stay there, and they would not let me have her ; 
so I left her - - (hoping that there would be a change, 



A "kind" mother-in-law. 41 

that something would turn up before long to unite us 
again) — and went to Mrs. Grinter's, at Coldwater 
Grove. I told there all that had happened, and that 
I believed they were seeking to kill me, and that I did 
not intend to stay there a minute. This revelation — 
which I should have been more careful about, but for 
which I did not care then — got noised abroad, and 
my relatives were terribly chagrined. 

Shortly after, my mother-in-law arrived at Mrs. 
Grinter's to fetch me to her home. She walked into 
the room, where we all were, without any ceremony, 
not even so much as to bid the time of day to Mr. and 
Mrs. Grinter, and in a very peremptory manner, said, 
" Kate, you shall go home; you shall stay here no 
longer." 

" I thank you," said I ; " I did not follow you here, 
and I shall not follow you back." 

She then walked straight up to me, and taking hold 
of the back of my neck, made her way out of the 
door, pulling me out backwards. There was a descent 
of five steps from the door to the. ground ; and all this 
coming so unexpected to me, I fell, or rather tumbled, 
down to the ground; she in the meanwhile saying, 
" Will you dare refuse me?" 

When I arose, she took hold of my hand and pulled 
me to the upper part of the yard. I was so weak that I 
could not prevent her from pulling me along, and I 
thought that if we kept on in this way, she would get 
me home at last ; so I let myself fall to the ground. 
She then took up an old bridle that happened to lay 
there, and raising it over my head, threatened to strike 
me with it, if I did not obey her. 

Mrs. Grinter then spoke to her and threatened her 
with the laws of the State if she did not let me alone. 
(Mrs. G. had been trained from childhood in purity 
and virtue. Exercise and temperance had given her 
health both of mind and body. She seemed that em- 



42 A SHORT SPELL OF REST. 

bodiment of perfection, that affection loves to cling 
to.) My mother-in-law paid no attention whatever to 
this threat, but her anger seemed to increase. She 
then picked up a rock and came toward me with 
flashing eyes, raised it, and threatened to dash my 
brains out, saying, " You shall go home ! you shall 
not stay here, after what has passed." 

Mr. Grinter then interfered ; and obliging her to 
lay the rock down, said, " What has this woman done 
that you threaten her in such a cruel manner ? " 

She then tried to lift me in her arms, and carry me 
off by main force; but I tried the naughty child's 
play, fell limber, and struggled out of her arms. This 
experiment she tried several times, but with the same 
result ; which so completely exasperated her, that her 
whole frame shook with indignation. 

" Stop !" commanded Mr. Grinter. " If any person 
had told me that you were such a woman as this, I 
should not have believed it; — besides, when I told 
you that it was reported that you abused your daughter- 
in-law, you denied it all; — but now I know it to be 
true; for I am an eye-witness to your cruelty and 
abuse. I shall spare no pains to acquaint my neigh- 
bors of the fact ! Now I want you to leave my prem- 
ises, and never intrude yourself here again, — you, or 
any of your family. I have befriended you a great 
many times during our acquaintance, but I had not 
the least idea that you had such a cruel disposition." 
Then turning his eyes toward me, he said, " God grant 
that she may be forever free from your cruel treat- 
ment ; such as this I never expected from an old gray- 
headed woman like you." 

She very reluctantly left. 

When I was sufficiently recovered to resume my 
work, I went to my mother-in-law's house for my thim- 
ble and some of my clothing. I did not feel safe in 
going there ; but I needed my clothes, and I saw no 



ENTRAPPED AGAIN. 43 

other way to obtain them. I asked her to let me have 
some of my clothes, remarking that I would trouble 
her no more, and that I was going home to Kentucky 
just as soon as I could earn money enough to defray 
my expenses. 

" Why, have you forgotten your child V 9 she asked, 
in surprise. 

" To be sure, I have not. That is the only tie I 
have in Missouri. I would be willing to suffer most 
anything for my child, if it could do her any good ; 
but I know well that my presence, instead of being a 
benefit, will only render her life more disagreeable; 
for undoubtedly she would often be made the recipient 
of punishment just to torture me. If I were here, I 
could not screen her from punishment ; neither would 
I be permitted to teach her to do what I think is right. 
I know well I should not be" permitted to train her at 
all; and, although I love my child wildly, I can better 
endure to be away from her than with her, and not 
have the privilege of even caressing her as my own 
child." 

" But, look here now, Kate/' said my mother-in-law, 
affecting tenderness, " do not be quite so sure. It is 
so late now ; stay all night, and you shall be kindly 
treated. You are going to Kentucky, you say. I 
don't see how you can refuse to stay all night once 
with your child, if you love her. I am sure no tender 
mother would refuse to stay." 

I studied some time, and was about to refuse, when 
little Myrtle — my dear little child — looked up into 
my face, and seemed to say, " stay." That look con- 
quered ; and before I knew what I was doing, 1 had 
said, " I will stay with my darling babe to-night." 

After a while, my husband came in. It was then 
quite dark, and we sat in an un lighted room. 

"Kate," began my mother-in-law, u you have been 
speaking your mind pretty freely about us. What 
shall we do to keep you from talking ? " 



44 TIED. 

" Nothing — nothing at all," I answered. 

" Well, Kate," put in my husband, " you are here 
now, and must remain." 

" Must, indeed !" I ejaculated. 

a Aye — must! You are my wife, you know, and 
must obey me." 

"No, I am not your wife, and I do not pretend to 
claim you for my husband. I am going home just as 
soon as I get money enough. You can keep Myrtle — 
as you undoubtedly will — and I beg of you that you 
will raise her properly. As for myself, I am sure I 
do not wish your protection, and should not be here 
now had not your mother persuaded me, against my 
will, to stay with Myrtle. 1 thought it would be the 
last chance I should ever have of being with her. 
But I see my error now : I see how unwisely I acted 
in acceding to her request; for I am now satisfied that 
there was no good design in it. I will go now. Only 
let me go unmolested, and I will say an everlasting 
farewell." 

" No, no, — you cannot leave my house this night !" 
ejaculated my mother-in-law ; and going to her bolt of 
cotton, she tore off some strips, remarking to him that 
I must be tied, that there would be no other way to 
keep me, and that no other strings would do so well, 
because, if I struggled to get loose, they would not 
mark my wrists so much. I heard this very distinctly, 
and might have rushed out, had I had presence of 
mind enough. 

My husband obeyed orders, and took hold of me to 
prevent me from making my escape. 

" You shall never have the liberty of circulating 
reports again," she exclaimed, angrily. " I shall tie 
you, and keep you tied, till you make promises that 
cannot be broken." 

In a few moments more I was securely fastened to 
the bedstead. My husband tried to be a little gentle 



A TERRIBLE NIGHT 45 

in tying me, and said, "lam only tying you to satisfy 
mother." 

A strange, wild feeling crept into my heart, and I 
muttered audibly, " Smooth dissimulation, skilled to 
grace a devil's purpose with an angel's face !" 

My husband had deceived me, persecuted me, 
and tried to poison me ; but I hated him worse for 
tyiug me than for anything else. I tried not to feel 
so wickedly towards him, but I could not help it. I 
should have thought it more manly had he undertaken 
to kill me. 

" We will now leave you, •Kate," said my husband, 
"hoping that on the morrow you will be yourself, and 
make a few fair promises ; for by so doing you will 
enable me to release you from your uncomfortable 
position." 

1 did not answer ; I had no words for utterance j but 
I was wishing for a heart to hate him worse, and in- 
dulged in feelings of hatred and disgust. I was un- 
conscious of their exit until I was brought to a sense 
of feeling by the many friendly mosquitoes which 
feasted away at will, wholly unmolested. A terrible 
night I spent indeed, but I was unwilling to make any 
promises in the morning; so I was guarded just as a 
prisoner that had committed some horrible crime. For 
weeks I was thus tied at night and guarded in the day, 
until, finding it impossible to compel me to make any 
concession, they resorted to another plan. 

" We must try another plan," suggested my mother- 
in-law ; " for it is very apparent we cannot subdue her 
after this fashion ; and it must be done at all hazards. 
If once she gets away, she will reveal our family secret, 
which wiil be worse than all that has been told. What 
can be done ? " 

My husband's half-brother, having some knowledge 
of medicine, proposed to administer quinine to me, 
which would give me a strange, wild appearance, and 



46 DR. CANTREL. 

then they could keep me in confinement with impu- 
nity; that they would report that I was insane, and 
my appearance would confirm the statement. 

I refused to take the quinine, as I was well aware 
what it was intended for ; but was told, if I refused, 
more severe measures would be taken to bring me to 
terms. So there was no alternative but to take it. I 
had taken something that salivated me while at Mrs. 
Grinter's, and my mother-in-law would do nothing for 
it, nor would she let any one else ; and it was sore so 
long as to create proud flesh. Doctor Cantrel had had 
some trouble in the State of Missouri, he being a radi- 
cal ; therefore he had made his exit up into Kansas, 
and, luckily for me, stretched a tent under a wide- 
spreading oak a little distance from our house. They 
generally loosened me for meals. So I went to the 
door and said, "-Let me look out and see the doctor." 

No notice was taken of me. I leaped from the 
door-step, but was soon followed by my husband and 
mother-in-law. Their efforts to overtake me proved 
fruitless, as I was somewhat in advance of them ; and 
I reached the doctor unmolested, — they, in the mean- 
while, having made their retreat to the house. 

I asked the doctor whether he could give me any- 
thing to rub my throat with. He said he would have 
to give me quick relief, as the disease was getting so 
near to my chest ; and if he did anything that would 
be strong enough to stop the disease, would kill me to 
swallow it. He had my mouth washed with creosote 
three times a day; and when I informed him that 
they burned my medicine, he threatened them that if 
his directions were not followed, he would take up all 
of them. I had a season of rest during his visits ; he 
then moved further up into Kansas. After he had 
left, they again commenced to administer the quinine 
to me. 

Such a lecturing as I received on my return to the 



USELESS ARGUMENT. 4T 

house would almost have crazed any one else, but I did 
not mind it much; I only thought of ease for my 
mouth. That night I rubbed my throat with the 
preparation the doctor gave me, and found some relief; 
but on looking for it in the morning, it was missing. 
They had burned it. 

I protested strongly against this, and declared my 
intention to leave was irrevocable. But they laughed 
at my " insane prattle," as they termed it, and asked 
me how I would manage my escape — if I had it planned 
well. 

u Where do you anticipate going?" asked my hus- 
band. " Every person believes you insane and would 
bring you right back; and let me assure you, Kate, 
your fate will be harder, for mother will spare no 
trouble nor pains to accomplish what she has under- 
taken." 

" Oh, I think you have punished me enough!" I 
said, endeavoring to be calm ; M and now let me go 
home. I want to go home so badly ; I am sure you 
will be rid of me then. Now just say I may go." 

My husband shook his head with an air of com- 
posure, and said, — 

" You had as well be patient, and content yourself, 
as it will be better for you." 

"But, husband, how can I be contented here?" I 
asked, with some spirit. " You know well 1 never can 
Neither can you be happy, for you have long since 
ceased to love me, and would be much happier were I 
gone; and — " 

" But you cannot go, Kate," he interrupted. " You 
shall never go home. This. is all the home you shall 
ever have ; and although you are not as a wife to me 
now, and have not been for some time, yet I shall keep 
you here to punish you; and the punishment shall 
never be mitigated until you give up your resentful 
disposition and come wholly under my will, and make 



48 EITHER BEND OR BREAK. 

promises in reference to that secret that you can not, 
dare not break/' 

My husband's calm, decided manner, in which he 
spoke these words, irritated me more than if it had 
been cold and harsh ; and a wild, resentful feeling took 
possession of my breast; but thinking it would be well 
to propitiate him, I endeavored to smother my indig- 
nation, and appear composed as I said, — 

" Think of the present, and let me go, though I 
make no promises. I am sure the future will be well 
enough." 

" Never mind, never mind," he responded. " I can 
attend to your case better while you are here. I used 
to love you, but now I rather enjoy punishing you, and 
always shall until you consent to do just as I wish you; 
then I will love you and cease to punish you, and not 
until then." 

" Just as you please," I returned, with affected com- 
posure ; " but I think you have known me long enough 
to be aware that you never can subdue me by the 
dragooning system. You have the power to punish me 
to an unlimited extent ; but let me tell you, you can 
never force me to submit. You can persuade me, but 
you cannot force me." 

"But I choose to force you," he replied, with a sar- 
castic smile; "and you shall either bend or break." 

I remained silent for a time, and then resolved to 
appeal once more to his generosity and manliness to let 
me go. When I had talked till I was almost breath- 
less, and thinking I had touched his heart, I paused 
for an answer ; but he only uttered a low laugh, and 
left the room. 

u I will never make a promise not to tell," I 
soliloquized, bitterly ; " neither will I promise to 
submit myself to his will ; I will die first.' 7 

Perhaps the reader may think I was too self- 
willed and unbending ; I can't help it. Of one thing 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 49 

I am sure of, and that is, if you knew and felt 
and endured what I did, you could not have acted 
differently. But never mind ; you have a free 
will, and I am willing that you shall form your 
own opinion. 

The secret did not concern me one way or 
another, but I had told them, frequently, that if 
they did not let me go, I should reveal it, when I 
did get away. They would not heed me, and now 
I could not break my promise. My intention was 
not to disgrace them when I wrote my history. 
They punished me to such a great extent that 
people, it seemed, always wanted to know what I 
was punished for; therefore, I am under no obli- 
gations to keep it a secret. They were afraid that 
I would tell something I knew against her daugh- 
ter, and it would separate her and her husband 
I have no right to deny the reasons of their ill- 
treatment of me. They first sought to prevent me 
from mentioning my treatment to any one, and 
before they accomplished their design, there was 
something more to prevent me from telling. I 
am self-willed, I own it, but I am satisfied had 
I made all the promises that they requested, I 
should not have been allowed to go home, for I 
verily believe, that their designs were not limited 
to this. 

u How do you get along with the idiot, now? 7 ' 
said my husband's brother, one day, as he thrust 
his uncombed head and bronzed cheek in at the 
door, one evening, about six weeks after he rec- 
ommended the quinine to be resorted to again. 
It did strike me he strangely resembled a mule, 
as his gray eyes rolled and tumbled from side to 
side, and a square mouth that occasionally opened 
to deposit upon the door-step, the amber which 
had collected in the basin of his mouth, from the 



50 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

huge plug of tobacco that rolled under his tongue. 
His gray eyes gave a twinkle of importance as he 
asked this, and when my mother-in-law told him 
that evening was the first time that I had been 
untied, for two days and nights, and that when I 
was untied to eat, I tried to run off, and that 
they caught and brought me back three times. 
Before they got me tied again, he low T ered his 
head and looked as a puzzled physician would 
over a bad case. 



CHAPTEE IV 

THE STORY OF THE INDIAN CHIEF. 

ON the following morning, an Indian chief, who 
was on business through that portion of the 
country, chanced to call. I viewed him at first 
with much curiosity, for although I had seen a 
great many Indians, this one bore off the palm 
for jewelry and fancy costume. He had an intel- 
ligent look, too, notwithstanding his rather fanci- 
ful array of antique ornaments and garlands of 
feathers, and his keen eye seemed to take in every- 
thing at a glance. A strange thought struck me 
as I thus watched his manners — that through his 
intercession I might possibly effect my escape. 
I meditated a moment, and then concluded that 
there would be no risk in trying it, as it was only 
death if ^remained there ; so I endeavored to at- 
tract his attention unobserved; but failing in 
this, I spoke aloud, and said : 

" I know who first brought tobacco into Ken- 
tucky, and laid it on a log." 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 51 

11 Who ? who ?" he interrogated. 

" An Indian." 

" I discover that you are well read, madam." 

" The best of it is, when I read anything I sel- 
dom forget it. The spirit of an Indian is proud 
and noble ; they never betray their trust." 

" I came from Kentucky," I went on ; " and am 
a prisoner here now. If you will release me and 
my child, I will go to the Miami Mission and sew 
for the Indian children." 

The Indian chief looked at me for a moment, 
and then glanced at my husband and his mother, 
who instantly began : 

" She is only a poor, crazy woman, that we have 
taken through charity ; and at times she becomes 
so capricious that we are compelled to tie her, to 
prevent her committing some outrage." 

But he did not seem to credit her assertion, and, 
after musing a moment, he glanced at me. 

14 That is my husband," I said ; " he married 
me in Kentucky ; he brought me here from my 
friends. You see his treatment. I would go with 
any tribe or nation, rather than stay where I am. 
Will you please get enough of your tribe, and 
release me, and take my child and myself? I 
could effect an escape, but I cannot give up my 
child." 

He seemed first to glance at me, then at my 
mother-in-law and husband ; and then he gave me 
a sign that meant yes. For fear I mistook him, 
I repeated once more, " Will you release me ?" 

He remained perfectly silent, but nodding yes. 
I believed him the more from his silence, and said, 
44 You are wise enough to hold your tongue." 

Mother-in-law asked his business. He stated 
he was an Indian trader, from the far Wesfy 
speculating in land. 



52 MY BOOK OF TKUTH. 

" You didn't expect to see people tying women 
here?" I went on. 

At this remark, he arose and departed. Yery 
soon after, he returned, and lingered near the 
doorway, gazing on me, giving the same signal^ 
as before. My husband noticing me looking, 
went to the door. The chief, with his shrewdness, 
asked for a biscuit to eat on the way. By this 
time I learned his business. Making a significant 
gesture he took his departure, followed by my 
husband, who, in compliance with his mother's 
injunction, strove diligently to impress upon the 
mind of the Indian the veracity of their asser- 
tions ; but, failing to accomplish this hypocrisy, 
returned to the house with a troubled counte- 
nance, and said : 

"I am apprehensive of having some trouble 
with /that taw ny scamp ; for I am confident my 
words had no more effect on him than the wind." 

" Yes, we shall have trouble ; I am sure we 
shall," put in my mother-in-law; u that signifi- 
cant look boded no good. I am confident he be- 
lieves this crazy goose implicitly, and I think the 
best thing we can do is to send for your brother, 
and let him lay plans for us. 

" Take the gun down and follow after him, and 
shoot him if you can," responded his mother. 

As he lifted the gun down from the rack, I 
caused him to delay as long as possible. Speak- 
ing to him, that I believed some day he would re- 
turn again after me, he started in the direction 
of the chief, soon returning, saying that he made 
no discovery. 

" The best thing you can do," responded his 
mother ; " is to go after your half-brother." The 
planner I shall now term him. 

My husband looked chagrined, as he donned 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 53 

his coat and hat and started for his brother's; 
but, to his credit, I will say he did not scold me 
this time, but seemed to think it a matter of 
course for me to exert myself for my freedom ; 
but his mother said enough for both, and I bore 
it as patiently as possible, hoping that there would 
be something done for me. I was generally al- 
lowed to sit up while I took my meals ; but on 
this day I was cruelly neglected, and toward 
evening I became so numb and faint from long 
confinement and want of nourishment, that I al- 
most imagined that I was dying ; but that was 
no time to murmur, and I nerved myself to en- 
dure my suffering silently, so long as I retained 
my senses. Several times my little child came 
to me crying ; but each time w r as dragged away 
by some member of the family, with impatient ex- 
clamations ; but I was glad on this day that they 
kept her away from me, for I was then suffering 
terribly, and to have seen that little one before 
me crying to come to me, and I forced to look on 
immovable, would have killed me. 

" Well, realty, there must be something done," 
he drawled out, as he gave the plug of tobacco 
under his- tongue an extra toss, and then dropped 
his head to muse again, while his pedal extremi- 
ties exchanged places in the effort to plan some- 
thing for their safety. 

As the mop was vigorously renewed my mother- 
in-law made several suggestions, but he paid no 
attention, farther than to roll his eyes around, 
and glance furtively out from under his broad 
eyebrows, and then slowly flap the ponderous 
lids down again, and fall to scheming. 

u I have it ! I have it at last !" he exclaimed, en- 
deavoring to free his fingers from the tuft of hair 
on his chin, where they had been doing duty for 



54 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

the last fifteen minutes ; and in haste, stripping 
his much-prized ornament through his fingers, he 
uttered an affecting exclamation at his terrible 
misfortune, and, taking a farewell gaze at them, 
he made a remark that we will have a great deal 
of trouble to subdue her, and went on to develop 
his scheming. 

" Yes, indeed, that will be the very thing," said 
my mother-in-law, when he had finished. M I won- 
der we never did think of that before." He 
/drawled out, " Well, now, I guess that will save a 
heap of trouble; won't it?" he returned with a 
broad leer, seeming to feel sure of being compli- 
mented by more than one for his masterly schem- 
ing. And when she had heaped her compliments 
on her son for his ready wit, he expressed his sat- 
isfaction by a hearty laugh ; and bringing his broad 
palms together, like two clapboards, he laughed the 
more. 

u Kate, what do you think you can do with the 
strait-jacket on? do you think that you can re- 
sist then, hey!" 

This remark was too taunting and unbearable, 
and I could not refrain from indulging in senti- 
ments expressive of my disgust for him. While 
at the same time it was ludicrous and perhaps 
ridiculous. But I had gone through with so much 
that day that I had no patience at all, and de- 
clared that I would rather w^ear a strait-jacket 
one whole day than to look at him for five minutes. 
He replied by a hoarse laugh, and turning to my 
mother-in-law, said, " If this plan fails, you have 
only to send for me;" and with a huge sigh he 
left to see if he could form any better plan. 

Very many plans were formed in my head that 
night as I lay securely tied to the bedstead, and 
at Jast weary and sleepy, I fell into a broken slum- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 55 

ber, to dream of what I had been maturing. Of 
course the quinine was given three times a day, 
as proposed, and continued for six weeks, during 
which time I boldly tried to make my escape 
every time I was untied ; but I was alwaj r s caught 
and brought back, and kept tied till my sufferings 
became so great they would be obliged to release 
me, in order to get rid of being annoyed by my 
importunities. " Well, mother, send for me when 
I am needed," said my husband's half-brother, as 
he and my husband started. 



CHAPTER V. 

MY ESCAPE AND APPREHENSION. 

WHEN my husband came home in the evening, 
he was made acquainted with the plan of 
locking the door, which he approved of, saying, 
" It is well for something to be done," although he 
did not think there would be any notice taken of 
the marks caused by the cords with which I was 
confined, should any person happen to see me, as 
they had duped every one to believe that I was 
insane ; but still it would be well to be a little 
careful ; and he advised his mother to have the 
strait-jacket completed as soon as possible. It 
would save a great deal of trouble, they said ; be- 
sides, it would be impossible to get away, as I 
could have no use of my hands, and therefore 
could not exert myself to get loose, and the least 
rope would secure me. 

u Now this is my last chance," I murmured to 
myself, as I listened to this undertone conversa- 
tion, " and I am determined to leave this house 



56 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

to-night if there is the least possible chance ; for 
if I fail to make my escape to-night, the strait- 
jacket will be completed, and then it would be 
useless to attempt an escape." Thus I mused, 
till my brain was all in a whirl, and I almost lost 
my senses. 

That night, as my husband tied me previous to 
retiring, his mother stood by to see that it was well 
done, and in giving directions, said, " You must 
fasten her securely, for I believe she intends to 
make a desperate effort to get away to-night." 

u Well, she is perfectly welcome to get away," 
he sarcastically replied, u if she can get loose after 
I have tied her." As he spoke these wicked 
words, he drew the cords so tightly about my 
wrists that I almost shrieked with pain, and with 
all the self-control I could summon I could not 
suppress an exclamation of pain each time the 
cord was drawn tighter ; but for all this, I should 
not have begged had he cut my wrists oif. 

" I shall never make any concessions to you," 
I declared, as the last knot was tied ; w I love 
neither of you, and I shall never bow to those I 
do not love. You may tie me, you may punish 
me, you may poison me with your quinine, or kill 
me outright, if 3^ou choose, but if I ever do get 
away I shall tell it." 

Perhaps I should have buried their secret in 
my heart, but I did not think of that then. I 
only thought how cruelly they had treated me ; 
my husband, too, whom I had trusted further and 
loved better than any one else in the world, and 
now hated worse ; and in my prayers that night 
I asked the good and merciful God to release me 
from their cruel hands. 

u Truly, either God or the Devil has something 
to do with you," said my mother-in-law, with em- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 51 

phasis ; u but }^ou will rue this one of these days ; 
for I assure you, if one thing will not bring you 
to, another will. You will never get away from 
here — never!" 

I heard her tell my husband that he and two 
brothers must lie on the floor, to prevent me from 
trying to make my escape ; and I heard her say 
that if I did by any means get loose and attempt 
an escape, the door, on being opened, would come 
in contact with the rock she had placed there, 
which would make a great noise, as there was no 
carpet on the floor, and could not fail to arouse 
them. I accidentally got this idea and was pre- 
pared for it. The cords by which I was fastened 
were so very tight that the pain became unbear- 
able, and I called to my husband to loosen them a 
little. I knew that that was my last chance to get 
away, and that it was quite impossible to make 
even an effort, being tied as I was ; but my pa- 
thetic imploring was tinctured with no thought 
of escape, for in this great suffering I was wholly 
oblivious of everything else. He paid no atten- 
tion at first ; but by-and-by, becoming exasper- 
ated at my importunities, he arose, exclaiming, 
" I will loosen those cords a very little, and then 
I wish you to remain quiet and not disturb me 
again to-night." Then he loosened the cord a lit- 
tle, and, tying about twenty knots to my hands 
and twenty to my feet, asked if I thought I could 
get away. I think the cord was looser than he 
had an idea of. Thoughts of escape immediately 
returned on being freed from this excessive pain ; 
and, when he had gone to his room, I tried to get 
loose, determined that the cord should come off 
if the flesh came with it. So I let my left hand 
fall behind me, and, turning on my side, suc- 
ceeded with difficulty in getting my right hand to 



58 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

my teeth; and, by great and untiring persever- 
ance, and, almost at the expense of my cuspids, 
I at length got the first knot untied. Thus en- 
couraged, I persevered until the right hand was 
freed from the horrible cord, which soon set at 
liberty my feet and other hand. I knew well that 
such sluggards as lay on the floor were sure to 
sleep ; and, having little fears of them, I waited 
until satisfied that the rest were asleep, and then 
slipped out of bed and cautiously and silently 
hastened toward the door, not pausing in my 
haste to get my clothes, lest they should hear me. 
Picking up the rock that I had an idea was there, 
I carefully unlatched the door and passed out, 
climbed the fence, rushed across the garden to the 
woods, an d did not slacken my speed until I reached 
Coldwater Grove, where I paused exhausted and 
sat down to rest. The grove to which I alluded 
was in the form of a triangle, and composed exclu- 
sively of black-oak trees, so closely interspersed 
with hazel-bushes that it was almost impossible 
to pass. 

"Free at last — Holy Father!" I murmured, 
as I sank exhausted to the earth, and in heartfelt 
gratitude humbly thanked Him for assisting me 
in this coup de main. For some time I sat wearily 
by the roadside, contemplating my happy escape, 
wholly regardless of the cold frost that was silver- 
ing all beneath, and the bleak winds which pierced 
my weak and wasted frame. I was too happy 
at having made my escape to realize the gloomy 
aspect of the scene, and no thought of fear entered 
my head until my attention was attracted by the 
sound of a horse's step. Quick as thought, I 
parted the underbrush and rushed through, and 
crouched down behind some bushes. Scarcely 
had I hidden, when a little dog came bustling 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 59 

through the bushes, and presenting himself before 
me, barked furiously. I was almost frantic, for I 
felt sure it was some person or persons after me ; 
and having no hope of escape,— for it would have 
been folly to attempt to flee through the closely- 
interwoven underbrush, — I only crouched nearer 
to the ground in hopeless despair, while the little 
dog's mouth close to my ear made sounds which 
were anything but agreeable. But in a moment, 
to my great relief, I heard the footsteps pass ; and 
as the foot-fall grew a little fainter, the noisome 
terrier left me to follow his master, and I, taking 
courage, ventured to look, and just caught a 
glimpse of a horseman, as he rapidly disappeared 
in the dense woods. 

Thus delivered from the terrible idea of being 
captured, I again thanked the great and merciful 
God, putting all my trust in Him. But with all 
the courage I could summon, sustained by my 
hope in God, I could not shake off the gloom that 
pervaded my soul. I thought of my child, and a 
pang of remorse shot through my breast ; and the 
agonizing feeling I endured, as I thought how I 
had left her with those who were the most cruel, 
— and perhaps forever, — can never be described. 
But I could not have got her unobserved, I rea- 
soned to myself, and it was better so ; I thought 
there would be some way provided for me to get 
possession of her, if I could only get away myself. 

After I had got somewhat rested, I again pur- 
sued my weary way. It was a cold night in Oc- 
tober ; a few dark clouds hung in the zenith, which 
now and then overshadowed the moon, hiding 
from view for a moment its shining disc, then 
permitting its cheering rays again to fall to guide 
my lonely way. The leaves had all fallen from 
the trees and lay in great brown heaps on the 



60 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

ground. The tall, rank grass rustled and sighed 
in the cold west wind, and the heads of the gigan- 
tic oaks bowed slowly and sadly, as if in homage 
to the dying verdure. 

For several hours I pursued my way, vainly en- 
deavoring to catch a glimpse of light from some 
friendly house ; but I was not cheered by any 
welcome light, and was obliged to continue my 
journey till the darkness rendered it impossible. 
The sky had become densely overcast by dark 
and portentous clouds, not a ray from the full 
round moon casting its silvery light to illuminate 
the unfrequented and dismal pathway; and the 
keen, cold wind shrieked and howled among the 
tall oaks, causing them to bend as though they 
were reeds, and hurling many dead branches and 
trees to the ground. 

Finding it impossible to proceed further, I 
wandered from the road into the woods, pulled 
up some grass and put it by the side of a log to 
break the wind, and laid down to rest, but not to 
sleep. My feet were horribly lacerated and swol- 
len from walking through the wild thistle and 
rosin weed, and I was almost chilled to death. 
A very short distance from where I stopped was 
a high cliff from which a huge rock projected, 
and over this ran a great stream of water, which 
gushed out from the cliff, and, passing rapidly 
over the rock, precipitated itself to the ground 
with a great noise, the distance of about thirty 
feet. The falling of this little cataract had washed 
the earth away and formed quite a deep hole, at 
the bottom of which was a large flat rock, and the 
water falling so far into this hole made a sound 
that was dismal enough. 

I remained there the rest of the night, listening 
to the wind wailing through the tall trees, and the 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 61 

incessant splash of the waterfall, while everything 
imaginable that was hideous harassed my mind. 
The dark clouds, which looked so threatening, 
only moistened the earth with a few drops and 
then passed gradually away ; and when the rosy 
morn made its appearance, the sky was perfectly 
serene — not a cloud to be seen in the heavens. 
I knew by the crowing of the chickens that I was 
near some house, and, on its becoming light 
enough for me to see, I noticed a white house 
just a little way off, and nearing it I recognized 
it as the residence of Mrs. Turley. In all my 
wanderings of the night I had got only about two 
miles from home. 

I knew well that Mrs. Turley was no friend of 
mine ; but there was no alternative but to go 
there, as I could not travel any further in such 
raiment, and I was weak and exhausted, and de- 
termined to try my fortune any way. 

At Mrs. Turley's suggestion, old auntie, the 
colored woman, brought forward some clothes and 
assisted me to dress, calling me " honey " and 
" dear," and pitying me, saying that she did not 
think I was crazy. The words of S3^mpathy and 
encouragement that she spoke sounded more natu- 
ral and humane than any I had heard since I left 
home, if they did come from the lips of a slave ; 
and I can never forget the good impression they 
left on my mind. 

Mrs. Turley had heard the report that I was in- 
sane, and believed it, or pretended to ; and I am 
confident she apprised my husband of my where- 
abouts, for just as I was breakfasting he came in 
with a disagreeable curl on his lip, and said, " To 
be sure you are crazy, or you would never have 
left home in such a plight ;" and with a patronizing 
air told me to prepare to go home. Remonstrance 



62 MY BOOK OF TRUTH 

was vain, and I was obliged to go with him. 
Though he made a sacred promise not to take me 
to his mother, he proceeded straight there, and 
with a savage exclamation of triumph delivered 
me into the hands of his mother. 

I was soon in my accustomed place of confine- 
ment, the strait-jacket in process of making, while 
my mother-in-law occupied the time well in giving 
vent to her spleen in wrathful expressions. 

Mrs. Turley had advised my husband that morn- 
ing to take me to the Insane Asylum at Kansas 
City, and he expressed his intention of doing 
so, while I was delighted with the idea, knowing 
that I could speedily get my liberty if sent there, 
as I could soon prove my sanity. Buoyant with 
this anticipation, I endeavored to make them be- 
lieve sure enough that I was crazy; and when 
the strait-jacket was completed I laughingly re- 
marked that that was just the thing to save 
trouble, for I really pitied them when I was to 
myself, they had so much trouble with me. That 
evening the strait-jacket was put on me. It 
was made with no armholes, tight in the waist, 
buttoned up in the back. When they put it on 
me, I begged to lie down in the bed. My hus- 
band refused to allow me, but my mother-in-law 
said that was the very thing ; they must keep it on 
me all the time ; I would die some time for want 
of exercise. She covered me up and seated her- 
self by the fire. When I found myself alone, I 
ascertained that I could let one hand fall behind 
me and slip back far enough to unbutton the bot- 
tom button, and then I could slip it up a little, 
and by continuing to persevere I entirely released 
myself. " Well, really, this is certainly a bad fit," 
I ejaculated, holding it up to my mother-in-law, 
and they all looked astounded and puzzled. But 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. €3 

at last finding her voice, she demanded, in harsh 
tones, how the strait-jacket came to be off. u I do 
not know, I do not know," I answered at random, 
" it just came off." " But you shall tell how you 
succeeded in getting it off," she said firmly, with 
compressed lips. But I did not tell ; she could 
not force me to tell, so she concluded to put it on 
again, and watch me to ascertain how it was done, 
if I attempted it again, so that it could be altered. 
I was wise enough to keep this a secret, and did 
not attempt to free myself in the presence of any 
one, but as soon as left alone, I would take it off. 
Several times the strait-jacket was put on her 
daughter in order to find out how it should be 
altered. She being larger than I, filled it up more, 
and failing, they tied me again to the bedstead. 

" This is more natural, isn't it Kate ?" remarked 
my husband, tauntingly, as he assisted to tie me 
in my accustomed place ; M and perhaps you will 
be more content with that which you are used to, 
for I admit that a strait-jacket is a disagreeable 
thing, and it pains me to see you encumbered with 
it, when this process will answer every purpose." 

I was sick and disheartened, and losing all the 
self-control I possessed at hearing this unpar- 
donable remark, I called out, " Leave my pres- 
ence, you insignificant fellow ; you are as mean 
as Judas ! I cannot hate you enough, and were I 
dying, I fear I could not forgive you." 

A low, croaking laugh burst from the lips of my 
husband, while my mother-in-law grinned with in- 
dignation, and immediately left the room ; but he 
lingered in the doorway for a few moments to in- 
dulge his incorrigible propensity for tantalizing 
me, and then made his exit with a disagreeable 
burst of pretended merriment, that echoed in my 
ears the whole night. 



64 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 



CHAPTEK VI. 

THE " PLOTTER " DEVELOPS HIS PLAN. 

AT last, my husband returned with his brother, 
who drawing a heavy sigh, took complacently 
a sitting posture. The rest of the company pa- 
tiently awaited " his lordship's " orders. 

" I fear that we shall have some trouble with 
that dusky chap of the forest," he at last broke 
out ; "he is the chief of his tribe, and with their 
assistance he can do anything he has a mind to. 
He may make a descent upon us, and destroy 
everything we have, and even burn the house if 
he should meet with any resistance." 

At this my mother-in-law went up, in a hysteri- 
cal fit of excitement, when I remarked — • 

"The chief may do worse than that to you, for 
he promised me, without your observing it, that 
he would do my bidding." 

Evidently " his lordship's " dignity was some-. 
what ruffled, and in spite of my extreme suffer- 
ing, I looked on in some amusement, while his 
basilisk eyes riveted themselves upon me. 

"I know your designs, Kate. I pardon you 
only on account of your ignorance." 

"Ah, well!" I pleaded; "but I am confident 
of his return." 

" How do you know all this, Kate ? You 
haven't brains above an oyster," — gazing on me 
with some surprise. 

"Because I believe," I replied, "that an In- 
dian's disposition is somewhat like my own : he is 
true to his trust. I w T ould go with any tribe or 



MY BOOK OP TRUTH. C5 

nation rather than stay where I am. I am sure," 
I continued, " that an Indian will befriend one in 
distress." 

They all sat for some time in deep meditation. 
The " plotter " at last declared that they would be 
obliged to remove me at once ; u for if the Indians 
promise anything," he said, " they will risk every- 
thing, even life, to fulfil it." 

" Well, well ! we must go to work and do some- 
thing to defeat his purpose," my mother-in-law fell 
in. "Son," addressing the "plotter," "please do 
suggest some plan for us to go by." 

" Well, give the quinine in double portions 
three times a day, until you get her brain dis- 
tracted. Then all the neighbors will think her 
crazy, and there will be no trouble to prove this. 
When you get her entirely under the influence of 
the quinine, start immediately to Harrisonville," 
continued he, laying his plan before them, and 
stopping to scratch some new ideas out of his 
bald-pate ; " then pass by Flem Rice's, and Jimmy 
Crooks's, and Trav Leach's, and John Turley's, 
and by this means make public the fact of her in- 
sanity. They all will surely write letters home, an d 
her friends will believe the same. Jack," he con- 
tinued, turning to his brother, " as you will be the 
proper one to do this, you had better stop at Allen 
Williamson's" (which was their brother-in-law's), 
" and get him to go with you, as you will need 
proof; and if you need any other assistance, you 
can get all of those neighbors mentioned before, 
and of course, I myself, for one, will complete the 
group. Let me caution you — don't agree to send 
her to the asylum in Kansas City ; for she might 
be enabled to make her escape on that road, as 
our treatment of her is getting circulated all 
around there ; but tell them you prefer to send 

5 



66 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

her to one that I know of one hundred miles from 
here. It's evident that, after the quinine loses its 
effect, she will become rational again and make 
her escape. I know of a poor-house to which you 
must take her, and after she stays there for some 
time, we will take her out again, and under as- 
sumed names testify of her worthlessness ; and 
then, if she make her escape, we will trade her to 
the Mormons or Indians." 

" Trade me to the Indians !" I interrupted him ; 
" that is just where I want to go. I shall be sure 
to find friends among them ; 1 shall find the noble 
Indian chief, and I will make a treaty with them.' 7 

Upon this the " plotter " remarked, " She must 
be removed from here immediately, for if the 
chief should return, no one can tell what would 
be our fate. After we get her traded off across 
the Plains, you must write to her friends in Ken- 
tucky that she is dead, which they will easily be- 
lieve, and never seek for further information, and 
there the matter will end." 

I threatened to make my escape, and the "plot- 
ter " advised them to get a key and lock the door. 
This frightened me more than anything else they 
threatened. At first I could see no way to make 
my escape. Then I recollected that the upper 
floor could be reached by a ladder, and as the 
place where the window should have been, was 
only closed by a shutter, I planned to make my 
escape by that means at the moment when they 
should be all asleep. But sometimes they had me 
tied so tight I could not get loose. 

On the following day he returned in company 
with his wife, to oversee the preparations and have 
things done according to his superior directions. 
Preparations were immediately commenced as 
soon as the quinine would have taken the de- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. GT 

sired effect. And various were the little ideas 
that were uttered by my niother-iii-law as she went 
about her work, expressive of her son's good 
scheming, and her great relief in the anticipation 
of getting rid of me. She went into the kitchen 
to commence dinner, — being left entirely alone, 
except my sister-in-law, — she commenced : 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE SECRET UNFOLDED. 

• • T AM sorry for you, Kate," she began, M but I 
X can do nothing for you ; I know you have 
been shamefully wronged, since you came here ; 
I think it is unpardonable, that you are not al- 
lowed to go home, when they pretend to want to 
get rid of you. Perhaps, Kate," she continued, 
" if you solemnly affirm, to keep that which you 
have threatened to tell, they may release you." 

u No, indeed!" I ejaculated with firmness, "I 
have declared I would tell it, if I ever escaped, 
and I shall certainly do it ; more than that, it ? s 
too late to expect any lenity from them." 

"It may be best for you," she still argued; 
" and I advise you to try it ; for you cannot have 
any idea of getting away while so closely confined 
and guarded ; and if things continue, you may 
come to some terrible death." 

But I determined not to humiliate myself 
enough to supplicate mercy of them, when I knew 
there was not the smallest spark of pity, or mercy, 
glowing in their breasts ; therefore, I replied, " I 
should do nothing of the kind. Perhaps you do 



68 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

not know the extent of the punishment I have en- 
dured, and do not believe that I " 

"Stop! stop!" she interrupted; " you know I 
am your friend, and although I am not allowed to 
openly sympathize with you, I am not so blind 
that I cannot see the trials you have endured ; 
nor deaf, that I do not hear your just murmur- 
ings. I did not believe at first that Jack had tried 
to poison you ; but I know now that he did, and 
my husband knows it too. You recollect, Kate, 
the time you were at our house, when you were 
taken ill, so suddenly, and you were certain there 
was poison in the bitters you had taken. I did 
not think it possible that you could survive ; but 
I could not bring myself to think, then, that your 
suspicions were correct; and when my husband 
came home, I told him the whole circumstance. 
He angrily refuted the charge, saying, ' he could 
drink all in the bottle, himself,' and going to the 
bottle took more than you did, but not many 
minutes had elapsed, before he was affected with 
the same symptoms, and came near dying ; then 
he was fully convinced of the reality, and I too. 
He said, he 'knew well enough it was done 
through the influence of his mother.' 

u Soon after, I heard him talking with Jack, and 
he said, in a mirthful, yet confidential way, that 
he (Jack), came near poisoning the wrong chicken. 
My husband is opposed to killing a person out- 
right. You know that he often prides himself on 
being a 6 philanthropist,' and he gave his brother 
a lecture in regard to it. 

" He does not mind killing me by piecemeal," 
I muttered indignantly. 

u I have heard him say, more than once, that 
it was a philanthropic duty to rid his mother and 
brother of you." 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 69 

" Sarah, the time I was at your house, and 
Jack came with a bottle of bitters, saying, he 
wanted to get me well, he wasn't going to treat 
me so badly, at first I found relief; but on his 
next visit, as soon as he came in, he asked me for 
my bitters, and I saw him put something into it. 
Then I asked him what it was he put in the bot- 
tle. 4 Nothing,' he said, • only something that will 
do you good, if you will just drink it.' He 
spoke thus. I didn't fear to drink them. In the 
morning, after awakening from my slumbers, he 
came to the bed and gave me some of the bitters. 
I drank some to please him. After I was seated 
at breakfast, he came to me to take the second 
dose, saying, 4 It has had no effect.' He and 
the ' plotter ' were done eating, and left the house. 
Do you remember?" 

* I do." 

u As soon as I became thirsty, and began to drink 
water, I got worse. I didn't suspect anything 
wrong of him till then. Your husband and he 
left the house ; on being so thirsty, feeling the 
same as before, when he gave me something, I 
was convinced he had given me poison. I tried 
to persuade myself to think it only spells I took, 
as I was sick." 

"On the next morning," she interrupted, "I 
was the more convinced, after my husband drank 
it, saying he didn't believe there was anything in 
it ; he could drink all in the bottle and it would 
not hurt him. He drank more than you did and 
came nearer dying." 

" I was diverted at your crying, Sarah, and 
saying, ' If I died, they would prove where they 
were, and lay it on you, asking what I did to 
kill the poison.' You forced me to drink, I don't 
know how much grease, and eat butter. You gave 



70 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

me coffee to quench my thirst, instead of water. 
In the evening your husband returned home 
bringing Frank. I suppose he was sent to find 
out the effect of the bitters, from what he said. 
He made the remark he thought 'I would be 
out of the scrape by this time.' He said his 
mother was sick and wanted me to come home 
and do the work. I declared I would not go. 
But your husband declared I should go, it was his 
mother. Frank was declaring that he believed 
; I hated his mother,' from my remarks. I made 
no apology, whatever, but on the resolve of the 
' plotter ' I should go, I ceased talking. On the 
morrow, while the men went to feed their stock, 
and Sarah was getting breakfast, she wanted to 
know the reason I was dressing so finely. The only 
remark was, 4 Do you think I am going to see my 
mother-in-law looking any way? 7 Putting my 
bonnet on, proposing to take the morning air, 
they never heard of me for two weeks. I went to 
old Mr. Marshall's. I begged Mrs. Marshall to 
take me in the neighborhood, so I could see my 
child. I could get her no other way only to come 
here, but as God is my judge, Sarah, and I ever 
make my escape, I shall never come here again, 
unless I bring enough to take me back by force. 
They have already got it rumored about that I 
behaved so badly at Mr. Marshall's, they would 
keep me there no longer. I am going to watch 
my chance to get away, and if I can effect an es- 
cape, some day I shall come back for my child." 

" You remember," said I, "the first time you 
and your husband came to see me, after we arrived, 
how strangely we treated each other. I never 
could account for your conduct ; since I have be- 
come better acquainted with you, and learned to 
look upon you as a true friend, I have pondered 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 71 

over it a great deal. And I have often wondered 
why my mother-in-law cautioned me when she met 
us at the gate, not to have anything to do with 
you ; that if I did, I would get into trouble ; that 
you were not a suitable person for me to associate 
with, &c." 

u Sarah, that reminds me of what she told me 
respecting you. She warned me against you, 
saying, 'you had the worst tongue in the world,' 
and requested me to keep all I knew against her 
family to myself." 

" Kate, I am sorry I ever ill-treated you* I 
know persons from the place where you used to 
live, and they all witness that you were respected, 
which has long ago satisfied my mind in regard 
to you. I have been sorry that I treated you so 
coolly ; but it seems that we have both labored 
under a misunderstanding." 

" You have my free forgiveness," I answered. 
" I think her main object in poisoning our minds 
against each other, was to keep the things from me 
that have occurred in her family, since she came 
to this State; also, to keep from you things that 
happened to her daughter before they left Ken- 
tucky, as her daughter married a man who did 
not know her misfortunes. They thought it might 
separate them. I threatened if they didn't stop 
their falsehoods on me, I would tell Allen Wil- 
liamson, her husband, about her. They boasted 
of the distance of where it happened, being a long 
way off, and I could not prove anything, when I 
threatened to send him to Westport, where she 
separated you and your husband. I have made 
a vow to God, Sarah, if ever I do get the chance 
to escape, to publish the whole of it ; not only 
the family secret, which so little concerns me, 
but this inhuman treatment I am receiving at 



72 MY BOOK OF TRUTH 

their hands, and I mean to keep my vow. I only 
wish I had enjoyed Adam's blessing to have never 
been troubled with a mother-in-law." 

"Kate, how did you find out what happened 
to her girl, in Westport?" 

" It came straight enough ; Jack told me." 

"Kate, I never knew what trouble was, till 
they moved to Westport. We owned a neat little 
cottage there, that my husband built, he being a 
carpenter by trade. Everything was arranged 
for convenience and comfort. My mother-in-law 
begged my husband to allow me to get things 
at the store on his account, because she was a 
stranger. My husband credited her until the 
bill ran up to three hundred dollars, and then she 
declared he owed her in Kentucky, and he had 
the debt to pay for her. I used economy myself, 
but his sister dressed extravagantly, even in silk, 
on his account. Instead of helping me so as to 
pay for her board and clothing, I had to wait on 
her as though I had been her servant. She was 
taken very ill ; I ordered her to leave my house, 
telling her that I would not have such as she 
about my house. My husband interfered, taking 
her part, and beat me until I screamed murder ; 
which soon brought a crowd of about twenty 
men, who arrested him, and lodged him in jail. 
He got out, by giving bail of three hundred dol- 
lars for good behavior. He soon broke over and 
had to pay. That, with the store debts, took our 
house and lot, and everything we had. Jack find- 
ing how affairs were, came with a wagon, to take 
her to his mother's, in the country, where they had 
moved. I do not know how he got along with her 
on the road. I never took pains to inquire." 

" I know all about that," I said ; " my husband 
gave me the full particulars. They had a beauti- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. f3 

ful tract of wide-spreading prairie to cross, and 
as the gentle animal moved leisurely along, some 
one set the tall rank grass on fire, a short dis- 
tance ahead of them, which placed them in great 
danger, and all that saved them was his forcing 
his animal into a muddy slough, and waiting for 
the fire to pass ; and as he had to proceed over 
the burnt prairie, the horse was frightened by the 
heat under foot, and reared and plunged, at such 
a rate, that it threatened to break the wagon to 
pieces, which must have been a trying time to 
her. But they soon reached home, and her mother 
being a professional nurse, administered restora- 
tives, and in a short time relieved her. A few nights 
after, my husband was awakened by a strange suf- 
focating sensation ; and when he became fully con- 
scious, he found the room full of smoke, and the 
house on fire. He hurriedly awoke the family, and 
catching his sister in his arms, carried her out ; 
the frightened girl seemed almost insane with 
horror. ' Where is my mother V she screamed. 
'All will be lost! oh let me go!' He laid her 
down on the ground. He then ran back and 
seized his mother by the hand, and tried to lead 
her out ; but she seemed paralyzed with fear, and 
as she suddenly realized their situation, she ex- 
claimed, ' How did this happen ? Where is 
your father?' At the same time trying to rush 
back into the burning building. It was all he 
could do to hold her ; he soon, however, dragged 
her back out of clanger. It was now midnight ; 
the air was filled with smoke, and as they gazed 
for an instant on the terrible scene, his mother 
shrieked, and again attempted to free herself. 
But Jack held her fast, telling her that it was use- 
less to throw her life away ; that she could do no 
good, for they could see his father dimly through 



74 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

the smoke, and the forked flames dart and hiss at 
him, as he vainly struggled to subdue them. In 
a moment he was lost to sight amid the dense 
smoke ; all eyes were strained anxiously toward 
the spot ; all hearts were painfully still, as each 
form bent eagerly to catch a glimpse of him once 
more. Imagine their jo}^, as the smoke seemed 
suddenly lifted by the breeze, and they beheld 
him slowly receding from the flames, as they 
leaped furiously above him, with a wild despairing 
sort of wail, saying, ; A11 is lost! all is lost/ 
lost!' as he came forth and sank down on the 
ground near them, completely overcome with ex- 
haustion. 

" The thick black smoke rose in grand mountain- 
like masses for a few moments, and there was a flood 
of bright sparks and glistening cinders burst out, 
like infinite worlds of blazing meteors, from the 
burning mass. And then again the flames leaped 
out shooting their long serpent-like tongues high 
into the air, darting and springing in wild fantas- 
tic terror ; then there was a swaying and totter- 
ing of the whole building, and a crash, and their 
home lay a seething, smouldering mass of ruins. 

" The moon and stars shone sweetly upon them, 
but suggested no ideas of comfort as they sadly 
contemplated their loss, and in a strange country, 
not knowing where to go, or to whom to call upon 
for assistance." 

" Well," she said, " I knew they had their 
house burned, but I did not know the particulars. 
They must indeed have had hard times ; but let us 
talk about your affairs now. We have both suffered 
enough from this unhappy family, all caused by 
that girl and her mother. I think that you had 
better make your escape as soon as possible, for 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH, Y5 

I have heard threats made that you are probably 
net aware of." 

" I have heard all that you have," I replied ; 
"my hearing is most acute, and being alone, 
and still, I can distinguish every word of conver- 
sation, even when carried on in low and con- 
strained tones. I know that my secret prayers 
will yet prevail with the Lord, and I shall soon 
gain my liberty." 

As I thus expressed my trust in God, and faith 
in his word, she began to weep, and said that she 
had been desirous of leading a Christian life, and 
had often requested her husband to attend church 
with her ; but he would not go, and prevented 
her from going by saying that he was lost ; that 
he had sinned away the day of grace, and that 
they might as well travel the journey of life to- 
gether. I then told her that it was wrong to listen 
to such persuasions, for each person must answer 
for his own sins. I called to her mind many 
precious promises to the penitent, — imploring her 
to " seek the Lord while he may be found," for 
He has said, " a broken and a contrite heart He 
will in no wise cast off." I told her that I relied 
upon God's promises, and the more they punished 
me the greater was my faith in God. 

" I don't see how you can think of leaving that 
precious child." 

I replied, " That has been all that has kept me 
here when I could have gone, and drew me back 
when I did get away — my dear angel babe ; but I 
have now become resigned, and feel willing to trust 
all in the hands of the Lord, knowing that He 
doeth all things well. He can keep my child from 
all harm, and if it is His will for us to be separated 
on earth, he will not separate us in heaven." 

She burst into a flood of tears. I tried to quiet 



76 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

her by telling her, if her husband should see her 
weeping thus, she would only receive more abuse ; 
" And now we must soon separate, and may God 
grant His blessing upon you," I concluded with 
calmness. 

" Kate," she said, " I do not see how you can 
be so cheerful, surrounded as you are by bitter 
foes. You do not seem to be aware of the threat- 
ened danger that awaits you." 

" you of little faith!" I exclaimed, "you do 
not remember Job, how after he had passed 
through his tribulation, had more than at first ; 
and all the good men of old, how God always took 
care of them, and preserved them from danger." 

The plotter himself then entered and precluded 
further remarks. 

That was the last conversation I ever had with 
her, and never shall I forget it or her kindness to 
me. That afternoon my husband, to try to prove 
my insanity, under the influence of quinine, 
started with me to Harrison ville, which is the 
county-seat of Cass County, Missouri. As we 
were going along the road, I was frightened by 
the appearance of two tawny-looking men, who 
looked both ragged and dirty. I supposed them 
to be Indians. My husband said to them, "I will 
be here with her day after to-morrow," when one 
of them mounted a very fine horse, saying, " Do 
you think we can make the trip with her across 
the Plains ?" As he had threatened to sell me 
to the Mormons or Indians, at first I almost 
shrieked, for I felt sure my husband meant me 
when he said he "would be here with her;" and 
that he was plotting with them to take me off. 
The thought was almost maddening ; but I soon 
consoled and calmed myself with the idea that if 
such should prove the case, I could make some 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. \l 

kind of a treaty with them when I could prove 
my devoted friendship to their chief. We soon 
reached the house of his sister, of whom I have 
before spoken. He called for quinine, but she 
had none, and fearing he might not take me with 
him, I talked all sorts of nonsense. We remained 
there all night. In the morning my husband said 
he did not think it necessary to take me to Har- 
rison ville, as he could get enough proof, with- 
out, to show that I was a fit subject for the insane 
asylum. My spirits sank immediately; but I re- 
solved to make good my escape if I should be left 
alone with his sister. She protested that she was 
afraid to be left alone with me — that she could 
not prevent my escape. Then all parties agreed 
that they had better take me to Harris onville, as 
they had first intended. We were soon on our 
way again. Several times while going, my hus- 
band remarked, that if ever we reached Harri- 
sonville, I would never see home again, and each 
time I would beseech him to take me home ; at 
the same time, in my mind I was positive that I 
would denounce him and be his wife no longer. 

We arrived in Harrisonville about eleven o'clock. 
We entered a store belonging to Mr. Martin, a 
former acquaintance of my husband's, to whom 
he introduced me as his wife, Kate Grifin. Mr. 
Martin wished to know "if that was the beauty of 
whom I heard you speak?" -and said I looked as 
though I might have been a good-looking woman 
once, but I looked now more like a skeleton on 
foot than a mortal of this world, and he would be 
afraid the prairie winds might blow me off. My 
husband then desired me to get on the scales and 
be weighed, wishing to find out whether I had been 
sick or acting deceitfully. The scales went to the 
notch ninety. He then went into a back room for 



78 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

something, when I, noticing writing materials, re- 
quested the privilege of writing a few lines, which 
Mr. Martin readily granted. I wrote as briefly as 
possible my husband's intention to prove my insan- 
ity ; that all the insanity I had was when under the 
influence of quinine, which he had compelled me 
to take ; and ended by imploring his aid in making 
my escape from him, as I should not live with 
him any longer. I had just handed the paper to 
Mr. Martin, and requested him to put it in his 
pocket, when my husband entered and wished to 
know what I had written. I told him that it was 
nothing to him, from that time on, what I did or 
said. He looked confused, and said, " Boys, let 
us start with her ; she is taking another of those 
spells.' 7 Mr. Martin requested them to take me to 
his house to get some dinner, which he refused, 
sa}'ing, the best thing he could do would be to 
take me home ; that he would not like to take me 
where Mrs. Martin was, for I was crazy. I de- 
clared I would not leave town until I got my 
dinner. Mr. Martin remarked that I looked as 
though I needed something, I was so thin. I 
told him that I did feel the need of something, 
and that if he had been half starved as I had, he 
would have looked the same. 

Mr. Martin then told my husband that he had 
better take me to the hotel and get 1113^ dinner, 
but he made the excuse that he had left his 
pocket-book at home. Still Mr. Martin insisted 
on his taking me to the hotel, and he would pay 
all charges himself. Seeing that he could not do 
otherwise with consistency, he reluctantly took me 
there and left me to go down town. Now, thought 
I, is my chance. I called the hostess, and told 
her the whole circumstances, and requested her 
aid. She then informed the town marshal, Mr. 



MY BOOK OP TRUTH. ?9 

Tarlton. As he stepped to the door he said, 
" There comes your husband and his brother now." 
I hurriedly passed through an adjoining room and 
through the hall, up stairs, into the first room I 
came to, locking myself in. My husband sent 
for me, but I refused to see him. Finding it use- 
less to insist, he concluded to try harsher means, 
but his proceeding proved fruitless ; he was obliged 
to leave me with the hostess. I then gave her 
the full details of my husband's treatment ; also 
that of my mother-in-law since I had been in the 
West. I told them that I was as rational as any 
person, but my haggard appearance was owing to 
the enormous quantity of quinine I had been 
forced to take, and their inhuman abuse. I in- 
sisted upon it being not only right and just that 
they should protect me, but that it was their duty 
to aid me in separating myself from a man who 
could treat a wife with such cruelty. I do not 
think there was one who doubted my statements. 
That poor insignificant wretch, how contemptible 
he did look as he approached and spoke, in what 
he intended for a kind tone, " Come, go home 
with me, and don't act so silly." 

I turned from him with scorn, and commanded 
him to bring in his judges and let them judge us 
both, and see who is the greatest fool, adding, 
" I have not taken quinine since yesterday at noon. 
I have almost as much sense as ever I had. I 
played 'possum with you all the way when I beg- 
ged you with tears to take me home ; my tears 
were shed for fear you would take me back." 

The proprietor, Mr. Taylor, asked my maiden 
name. 

" My name was Kate Gore ; I was born and 
raised in Bath, Montgomery County, Kentucky." 

He said he believed there were persons living in 



80 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

Harrisonville from the same place, and mentioned 
one Mr. Thomas. I requested him to see him, that 
he was an old acquaintance of mine. He soon came 
to my assistance, and extended a friendly hand 
to me. My husband's brother-in-law, Allen Wil- 
liamson, came up to me and seized me by the arm, 
saying to my husband, " We shall have to take 
her by force." Mr. Thomas paid no attention to 
him, but continued, " I knew this lady in Ken- 
tucky, long before she married this man ; she is 
worthy of assistance, and I intend to see her pro- 
tected." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

A ERIEND IN NEED. 

1*HE town marshal hearing this, drew his pistol 
and commanded them to leave; but Allen 
Williamson still insisted that they had a right to 
compel me to go. The town marshal asked him if 
he had any claims on me. He answered no. He 
said you cannot force her to go, and if you at- 
tempt to lay hands on her I will put the law in 
force against you ; we are in the habit of protect- 
ing women here, and repeated they should leave. 
Then they left. 

I imagined my troubles at an end ; but my 
conclusions were somewhat changed when, on the 
following day, having set out to try and find some 
place where I could remain until I could obtain 
the necessary funds to bear me home, I saw that 
every person avoided me as they would an evil 
spirit. To the inhabitants I had been reported 
crazy; and the women and children ran like 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 81 

turkeys, when they saw me approaching them on 
the streets, crying, as they ran into the shelter 
of their own, or the nearest houses, "Here comes 
the mad woman ; she has made her escape from 
those who have had her in charge." It was use- 
less for me to try to explain anything to them, 
and I wandered from house to house, being re- 
fused shelter and aid in any of them, until at last, 
when about to despair, I found a temporary shelter 
in the house of Mr. John Colenes, in Harrisonville. 
When I had been there but a short time, Mr. Rice, 
of whom I have previously spoken, made his ap- 
pearance one afternoon. Though an old school- 
mate of mine, I knew him to be a particular friend 
of my husband. Therefore I had reason to be 
suspicious of him ; and I was more than confirmed 
in my suspicions, that his visit boded me no good, 
from his actions toward me on this occasion ; for 
though he was well and intimately acquainted 
with me, he neither addressed nor seemed to 
recognize me. I therefore made up my mind to 
watch him, and if possible, find out the nature of 
his business. With this resolve, I determined also 
to remain passive as to his acquaintance. 

After finishing supper, in the evening, Mr. Rice, 
Mr. Colenes, and the rest of the family left the din- 
ing-room, passing into the next room, which was 
only separated by a plank partition. In a short 
time I heard a conversation going on. The door 
being closed, I bent my ear to it, and tried to 
hear what was being said, justifying myself for 
playing the eavesdropper, on the ground that I 
firmly believed that I was in some way connected 
with the visit of Mr. Rice, and that my own safety, 
nay, even my life, depended upon my knowing 
what the nature of his business was. As I lis- 
tened I heard Mr. Rice, say : 

6 



82 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

" I hardly know how I can get her away, unless 
I gag her, without which she would surely raise 
an alarm. I shall have to come late at night and 
get her off." 

Colenes answered, " I shall have nothing at all 
to do with this transaction ; she came to my 
house when she was almost exhausted with fa- 
tigue and exposure, and I allowed her to stay, 
and now I shall, at least, try and keep out of this 
scrape. Gagging will be a pretty severe opera- 
tion, I should think.' 7 

" I don't care for that," returned Rice ; u all I 
want is your permission. I will put her through 
the operation, myself; come, let us go and get a 
drink, and talk this matter over. At about eleven 
to-night, she will probably be asleep, when it will 
be the easiest thing in the world to gag her, take 
her out of town, and back to her husband, without 
creating either noise or suspicion." 

After some further conversation relative to Mr. 
Thomas's horses, — how he (Rice) had a plan laid, 
by which the former would lose all his stock by 
his pretended friendship for him, the voices died 
away in the distance. 

When these men were out of sight, I immedi- 
ately made my way to a neighbor's house, who, 
to my surprise, I afterwards found out was cogni- 
zant of the plot being hatched up to take me to 
my husband again, and I requested that I might 
be permitted to remain with them that night. 

" Why do you wish to leave where you have 
been staying?" was asked in a voice of affected 
surprise. 

I could not abstain from giving a direct re- 
sponse to this interrogation, and told my ques- 
tioner that I had reason to believe a person now 
at that house was plotting to put me in my hus- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 83 

band's power again, and that he would attempt 
to put his plans into operation this very night, 
unless I eluded him somehow, and for this reason 
I had come to ask her assistance. 

"You are very foolish," remarked this lady; 
u very foolish, indeed, I think, but still you can 
remain here." 

These words did not tend to make me feel safe, 
even here in her house, and, as 'I was already sus- 
picious of her, when she directed me to a room, 
I passed on to a wood-shed, where I knew they 
would never think of searching for me, if a search 
was instituted. Here I remained until the next 
morning, when Mrs. Colenes, the lady at whose 
house I had been stopping, came to inquire for 
me, and persuaded me to return to her house. 

Although I consented to return with her, I be- 
gan to suspect that she was concerned in the plot, 
and from the aspect of things, generally, I con- 
cluded that her husband had somewhat moderated 
his views in regard to the matter, and was lend- 
ing his mite to further the plans of Mr. Rice and 
my husband. 

After we arrived at the house, Mrs. Colenes 
asked me in her blandest tones, " Would you not 
like to go to the country? We have a nice farm, 
and no one will molest you there." 

I answered in the negative. I would prefer to 
have a lady protector. After a little while, Mrs. 
Colenes suggested that we all would go and 
gather some grapes, declaring she hadn't had any 
for so long, it would be quite a treat. 

" Who are going?" I asked. 

" The lady at whose house you stayed last 
night, yourself, my husband, and I," answered 
Mrs. Colenes. " You see there is just enough to 
make a pleasant little party." 



84 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

I consented to accompany them, after a good 
deal of persuasion ; and when in the wagon my 
suspicions were fully aroused, hearing some low 
talk and significant looks, which, to my mind, 
were not at all good omens. Furthermore, I ob- 
served a rope but partially concealed beneath the 
seat, and my worst fears were more than realized. 
I asked carelessly, to what use that rope was to 
be put, when there was a painful pause, and they 
exchanged glances with each other, each one wish- 
ing the other, probably, would volunteer an ex- 
planation. 

" We intend tying a dog in the thicket," an- 
swered one of the party, in a tone of affected joc- 
ularity. 

This was enough for me, and I jumped out of 
the w T agon, to leave the party, saying that I did 
not wish to live with them any longer. I knew 
a place in the country where I could go, stating 
that I could walk there. 

After a good deal of talk, pro and con, it was 
finally agreed upon to let me proceed on my way 
unmolested ; and they returned home, while I pro- 
ceeded to the house of one Mrs. Patten, living a 
short distance in the country, who, I heard, some 
time before, had wished for some one to weave for 
her. 

After my arrival at her house, and making ar- 
rangements to stay, I was taken with a very 
heavy chill, and requested the privilege of retir- 
ing for a short time. 

While reposing in comparative contentment, 
rejoicing over my good fortune, the lady of the 
house came to my room for the ostensible purpose 
of having a few minutes' conversation, and in the 
course of her remarks, asked me if my principles 
were anti-slavery or pro-slavery ? 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 85 

" I was raised in a slave State/' I answered, 
u but my principles are altogether anti-slavery. " 

u Indeed!" contemptuously ejaculated Mrs. 
Patten, immediately starting up and going out 
on the porch, as though my presence would con- 
taminate her. Here she indulged in the very 
original remark — 

" I'll burn your Yankee grease in my lamp to- 
night." 

" Why, ma, would you kill her ?" said her daugh- 
ter, in a low, but sufficiently loud tone for me to 
understand. 

" Well, now, — that is, — I wouldn't myself, but 
I shall have it done, when the boys come in," she 
roared, regardless of my hearing. 

"If ever there was an ugly critter on the top 
of the airth, it is a yaller Yankee. A Yankee is 
wuss nor pisen any day you chuse to kalkerlate 
on it ; and I for one am not going to harbor sich 
a varmint. I'll be sartin to fix the Yankee carcass 
where the dogs will not trouble it." 

The country was in a great commotion at that 
time. I knew it too, and should have kept still 
on the subject of politics, but I was not aware of 
the danger I was in. This occurred in 1860, 
when Southern tongues spoke nothing but threat- 
enings and death to all who advocated the Union 
sentiment. The old lady's temper seemed to be 
at the highest pitch, as things flew in all direc- 
tions, as did the shrill voice of this angry woman. 
And for the time I imagined perfect sparks of fire 
darting from her eyes, which were red with rage. 
"I'll teach a yaller Yankee how to come to my 
house and boast of her principles." In this way 
she went on making gestures which were of an ex- 
citing and outlandish character. 

" Ye '11 make good sass for the pigs if I can get 



86 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

them to 3^e. I have hearn that the people further 
south fatten their pigs on stray Yankees, as it is 
all they are fit for ; I vouch for her safe keeping, 
jest trust me for that." 

As she was making these startling remarks, I 
was plotting in my mind the best mode of escape. 
And with a firm grasp I snatched my satchel, and 
with difficulty cleared the door, and made my way 
across the field. 

"Why don't ye stop her?" yelled the wiry- 
haired daughter, in a voice which sounded as if it 
came from the depths of the lower regions. 

" Attend tu yer business, young un," came the 
voice of the old woman ; " I'll 'tend to the Yankee 
critter without any of your help ; there comes one 
of the boys, and they will get her before she is 
fur. I'd rather have the work did out of my 
yard." 

As those words reached my ear I looked across 
the field and saw a man on horseback coming in 
that direction as I ascended the hill. It was Jo- 
seph Crocker. (The Widow Patten was married 
first to a Mr. Crocker.) But here I paused one 
moment to catch a glimpse of the house from 
wilich I had escaped, but saw them standing 
in a huddle, anxiously watching their escaping 
foe. But for the moment I felt a sense of 
liberty, as I descended the opposite slope of the 
hill. I stopped again to think where to go, but 
only went on through a thicket, neither knowing 
or caring where I went, or where my weary feet 
would lead me, only noticing the heavy storm- 
clouds disappearing, while darker thoughts filled 
my heart, and thinking that every step length- 
ened the distance between me and my would-be 
assassin, knowing by my own exertions I would 
be some miles away ere they would, pursue me, 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 87 

and I had great faith in myself and my ability to 
keep beyond the reach of my enemies. 

I was the only living thing I saw in that dark 
woods. The loneliness of my situation had no 
terrors for me. I made my way the best I 
could, plucking a bunch of grapes, which were 
tasteless and had no flavor. As I came to the 
road or small footpath, I halted to cast a glance 
about me ; as I did so, I saw a man with a yoke of 
oxen, and was just going to ask him if he would 
give me a night's lodging, when I heard another 
voice. As I listened to the wicked words I heard 
him say : 

" If Kate Grifin comes to your house to-night, 
knock her in the head." 

I was dumbfounded, and all my pulse seemed 
to stand still, as I awaited to hear the voice which 
startled me. " Yonder she is now," it came again, 
nearer than before. There was no mistake whose 
voice it was which had startled me. The familiar 
tones fell on my ear, " She would not stay at our 
house. Knock her in the head. She had six bits in 
in silver. There she is now." Putting spurs to 
his horse, he came in the direction where I stood. 
I had no hope of escape, but it seemed natural 
for me to run from him, and as he stopped to talk 
with the man, I discovered that I was on the op- 
posite side of a thick clump of underbrush, which 
y/as growing close to the spot where I was stand- 
ing ; and advancing a little farther, I saw that I 
was hid from their view. I was only in time to 
reach the shelter of a brier thicket, and as I gained 
this place I fell beside a log which lay beside the 
road ; the briers, w T hich seemed to be my only 
friend, dropped their thick clusters over me, and 
made a complete hiding-place 



88 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

CHAPTER IX. 

A NIGHT OF HORROR. 

AT this moment I saw the head and shoulders 
moving along the opposite side of the briers. 
I crouched near the ground, but in hopeless des- 
pair. But I thought he suspected my hiding- 
place, for he came so near to me I could feel the 
ground tremble as the horse walked, and fire 
seemed to flash across my brain as he approached 
nearer and nearer. I seemed to hear him breathe 
his foul intent if I fell in his clutches. But, oh, 
God! what a sense of relief I felt as the foot- 
steps of the horse died aw^ay in the distance, and 
the footfall grew fainter and fainter to me, while 
I attempted thanks to Him that ruled all things 
well in delivering me from his cruel hands. I re- 
mained there all night, fearing to move or attempt 
to start on my way, lest there might be some one 
watching for me. And there I lay, while the chill 
November frost fell mercilessly upon my cold, 
shivering form, chilling my wasting frame through 
and through. And, to add to all this, the wild 
animals kept up their hideous yells all night in a 
most threatening manner. But perhaps their yells, 
songs, and manners, taken collectively, were in- 
tended for a serenade to their new visitor, wel- 
come or unwelcome. But to me it seemed like 
the resurrection, calling for the dead to come 
forth ; for surely I thought nothing was so gloomy 
and fearful. The night was clear and frosty, while 
the stars were shining brightly from the heavens ; 
and from these and the snow, I had quite as much 
light as I needed. While here and alone in the 



MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 89 

forest, I indulged in a secret nope that on the 
morrow I would find some one that would wel- 
come me to their home, and give me some refresh- 
ment, as I had not tasted a morsel since eating 
my breakfast at Harrisonville, Missouri, except 
some grapes, as above-mentioned. 

What should I do after getting away ? What 
was to become of me without money or friends, 
and at that bleak season of the jeav ? were 
thoughts that harassed my mind almost to dis- 
traction. I tried to look forward to calculate 
future possibilities. There rose up before my 
mental vision a dim, blurred picture, in which 
everything stood and shone as indistinctly as 
though seen through a mist, while fiery dreams 
penetrated my aching head in my restless sleep. 

In the open country the wintry sun cast its 
first rays of golden tints among the tree tops o'er 
my head, making me feel more deeply my sit- 
uation, as I resumed my journey; but it is need- 
less to say what difficulties I encountered while 
trying to get a home. But at last I found it at a 
Mr. Duval Payne's, a man of my own native State, 
who had moved from Flat Rock, Bourbon County, 
Kentucky, and was once a merchant there. They 
cared for me as tenderly as my own parents could 
have done. 

Several weeks after T came to Mr. Payne's, I 
was looking out of the window on the dreary 
scenes which surrounded me, thinking how the 
woods must look at my dear old home, each scene 
rising vividly in my imagination, and wondering 
if I should ever have the pleasure of beholding 
them all again as I had seen them in bygone 
days, when my musing was broken by the an- 
nouncement of my husband. He had heard that 
I was there, and came, but could not define nor 



90 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

explain any definite business. But still I did not 
feel afraid of him now, for I knew I was among 
friends. 

" How do you do, Kate ? where have you been 
this long time?" at the same time extending his 
hand to me, as though he had alwaj 7 s been kind 
to nle, and was glad to see me again. I withdrew 
my hands from his grasp. At the same time I 
saw my friends smile at seeing me treat him with 
silent contempt. He turned to Mrs. Payne, and 
asked her if anything had happened me that I 
could not speak. 

" No, no," was the instant response, " it's only 
ill-treatment received from you in times past." 

Mr. Payne entered the room ; he arose and shook 
hands with him. About the first word my husband 
uttered was, "Mr. Payne, I have heard some 
people were busying themselves very much about 
this matter. They have gone so far as to say my 
mother struck my wife. They have to take it 
back, or I shall kill them." 

I arose from my seat, and said, " I can face you ; 
she did do it." 

"Mr. Payne, I wish you would take a walk rrith 
me, so I can talk to you a moment," he said. 

" You had as well say what you have to say in 
her presence, so she can defend herself." 

"Yes," I responded; "3 r ou know that every 
falsehood you utter in my presence will be contra- 
dicted; besides that, I have good proof of it." 

While Mr. Payne commenced, "No longer than 
yesterday, I rode to Harrisonville with John Hen- 
derson. He tells the same story that she does, 
what occurred at Mr. Grinter's ; and how can I 
doubt her words, when they both make the same 
statement?" 

" You have commenced your old game again, 



MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 91 

and want a chance to misrepresent things. But 
I think you have got in the wrong place. Ah ! I 
see you have got on a pair of pants, made out of 
my cloth shawl which I earned before we were 
married ; you need not think I do not know it," 
I declared. 

M Well, Kate, I want you to stop your talk. I 
shall print this some day when your influence of 
quinine has lost all effect." 

Mr. Payne replied, that he thought the quinine 
had been a great injury to me. U I brought Dr. 
Peery here, and have had him doctoring her; 
what you ought to have done long ago. And he 
said the quantity of quinine that had been given 
would have destroyed her mind entirely, had she 
not had a mind among a thousand. My wife and 
I have cared for her as tenderly since she came to 
my house, as we would have done for one of our 
children ; what you ought to have done long ago." 

" Well, Mr. Payne, if there is anything I can 
do to satisfy her, I am willing to do it now. I 
must confess that I have not done at all right ; 
but I am willing in the future to treat her right 
if she will only go home." 

Mr. Payne replied, " I have heard her say that all 
the love she ever had for 3^011, had turned to hatred." 

" Have I not reason that she should be dearest 
of all to me ? Is there anything I can do to satisfy 
her ? If there is, I am willing yet to do it." 

" I think there is something you can do to give 
her relief." 

" What is it ? I'll do it then." 

" Bring her child to her." 

" I will certainly do it, sir; I love her still." 

" You love me," I ejaculated, and turned away 
with disgust. U I am going home soon; didn't 
you know it?" 



92 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

" I can't let you go that long distance alone, 
and I have no money to go with you." 

" Do you think under the circumstances I could 
trust you, — a blackhearted villain ?" 

" Why not ? I am still your husband, and I 
love you as well as ever I did." 

"You love me!" I exclaimed, in an excited 
tone ; " love me ! I am going home." 

"How is she going home?" he asked of Mr. 
Payne. 

" I and my neighbors have just made up thirty- 
seven dollars, to send her to her home, in Ken- 
tucky." 

" I think you had better put the money in my 
hands, for I do not think that she is capable of 
travelling alone." 

" Do you think I'd trust you again ? a villain 
that has proved trustless in all things against me. 
I have left you and got away by force ; do you 
think I would allow you to go home with me and 
tell my friends that you could not live with me 
any more ? You can't say that. Besides, if I 
should start with you I'd never expect to reach 
my home. Mr. Payne, if you want me to go 
home, just put the money in my own hands; I 
am capable of travelling alone." 

" How soon will she start home ?" 

"Don't tell him," I interrupted, before Mr. 
Payne could answer; "he might set some trap 
for me, as I am on my way home. I can't trust 
him." 

Through the advice of Mr. Payne, he promised 
to bring my child to me, which promise he 
promptly fulfilled. 

I was so overjoyed with the recovery of my 
child, that I determined to make an immediate 
effort to get to my home in Kentucky, before 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 93 

other calamities overtook me and my child. I 
made known my intentions to Mrs. Payne, telling 
her I thought it best and expedient to go while I 
had my child, and that I thought I could reach 
home by some means or other, and once at home, 
I would feel freed from all this trouble, or, in a de- 
gree, my mind would be alleviated. 

Mrs. Payne encouraged me in my resolution, 
and I at once set about making preparations for a 
clandestine departure. My anxiety to get home 
nerved me in every attempt to hasten forward 
the preparations necessary for my journey. I 
was ready, now, with money sufficient to start 
with, and my darling little Myrtle was already 
to accompany me. Oh ! what a sense of delight 
this caused me as I once more had the darling 
child in my arms, and I was trying to escape 
from a cruel husband's grasp. 

It was decided that I should start immediately. 

Mr. and Mrs. Payne went out to see about a con- 
veyance to take me to the stage route, and to ob- 
tain some further assistance for me, while I was 
left to complete my preparations. This being 
finished, I sat waiting patiently for their return, 
thinking how God had favored me in my escape, 
the recovery of my child, and finding those good 
friends. So, elated with the prospect before me, 
of a happier time, I did not observe my husband 
approaching until he had entered the door. 

u Well, Kate," he commenced, " I heard you 
were about returning to your native State, so I 
took the liberty of coming to relieve you of your 
burden, the child. Travelling with a child on 
strange roads, changing cars, &c, is, indeed, very 
inconvenient ; so I'll just take the child home with 
me and save you further annoyance." 

I was perfectly confounded, and do not now re- 



04 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

member what I did or said to him, as he wrested 
the child from my bosom, and walked off, saying, 
in a taunting manner, something to this effect : " I 
could not possibly be so ungenerous as to allow 
you to travel such a distance with a wearisome 
child, when you are looking so pale, too." 

I thought and wished unutterables as he ignored 
my every effort to retain my child, and I heard 
his last provoking, taunting rejoinder, as it fell 
from his polluted lips, as he turned and marched 
off triumphantly with my darling Myrtle. 

I was almost frantic when Mr. and Mrs. Payne 
returned. I declared to them I would not go with- 
out my child. But through their kindness I was 
persuaded to go. They told me if I did remain 
it would not avail anything, as there was no 
chance to get the child, only by force ; and that 
it would be difficult to get persons to engage in 
anything of the kind ; that my health was poor, 
and I had better go, and when my health was re- 
stored, they ail would join together in trying to 
obtain the child, and they would send it to me. 

I pondered on this until the carriage drove up 
to the door, that was to take me to the stage office. 
I concluded to go ; but not until I had conjured 
them to see my child as often as they could. I said 
to Mr. Payne, u I came to your house a stranger ; 
you took me in and fed and clothed me. Remem- 
ber the Saviour's promise : 4 Verily, I say unto 
you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these 
ye have done it unto me.' You have acted a 
Christian's part towards me. As I am going to 
start home and am in very ill health, will you 
please see my child once in awhile. I may never 
live to see her again, and if she lives until she is 
old enough to know right from wrong, will you 
please seek the opportunity to teach her the path 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 95 

of duty. I am leaving her with those who only 
know evil, and are not capable of rearing a young 
mind." 

Mr. Payne -implicitly promised to comply with 
my request ; and thanking them in my heart more 
than words could express, I took my leave, but 
paused at the door, and said to them, u Should 
it ever be your fate to be in reversed circum- 
stances, or any of your family, hunt me, let me 
be wherever I may, and if fortune smiles on me, 
I will lend a helping hand to you or your wife or 
children. But I hope nothing of the kind will ever 
befall you." I turned and thanked them once 
more fcrr their kindness and bade them adieu. 

After a wearisome ride, I reached Pleasant Hill, 
and stopped at Mr. William Parker's, the post- 
master, and son-in-law of Mr. Payne. Mrs. Parker 
told me that Mr. Parker was trying to raise a 
contribution for me, as they feared my means 
would fall short. They also told me that they 
met no one but w r hat was telling about my treat- 
ment, or they were asking to know more about it. 
The night was cold, and thoughts came crowding 
into my mind about the distance that would be 
between me and my child. Thus it was all night ; 
for I never closed my weary eyes in sleep. Some- 
times my reason seemed to fail me. God forgive 
me if I was w r rong ; for it does not seem right 
that I left her behind me. But God has sepa- 
rated us ; and to bring us together again I feel is 
not impossible for the Ruler of heaven and earth. 
These thoughts fell heavy upon my aching heart, 
and I tried to rest, if not to sleep. 

The wind wailed and moaned like the despair- 
ing cry of dying nature. Sometimes it would lull 
into a deep moaning sound as if chanting some 
funeral dirge. The night was lonely enough. No 



96 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

light save that which came from the coal fire, 
which burned low. My child ! my child ! I wept. 

Morning came ; the sun shone through the dam- 
ask curtains, and fell upon my bed, as if wishing 
to know the cause of my distress. I arose hurri- 
edly to be in time for the stage. I bid them 
adieu, while old Mr. Green accompanied me to 
the stage. After shaking hands with him, he 
gave me a letter directed to his son-in-law, Mr. 
John Layors, in Paris, Kentucky, and requested 
me to take it to him, and stop with him a few 
days and rest, and directed me to go to the Widow 
Thurston's hotel, in Paris, and she would send a 
boy with me to carry my satchel. ^ 

As Mrs. Thomas was from Montgomery County, 
Kentucky, she informed me that she was going to 
accompany me home. She was going to settle up 
her business. When we arrived in Cincinnati, we 
stopped at the Burnet House, on our way falling 
in with a very interesting lady and husband. The 
morning after, the lady came to our room, and re- 
quested my name of Mrs. Thomas. Being an- 
swered at random, and in rather slighting re- 
marks, she said something about insanity. " How 
she compliments me!" 1 thought; " fools never 
get insane." 

This being Sunday, also Christmas day. I was 
too ill to go to the dining-room until Monday 
morning. The woman in company with me, to 
save her fare, all this time was eating the victuals 
that had been prepared for me by Mrs. Parker in 
Pleasant Hill. I knew the cost would be the 
same to her while occupying the room; but I 
would not tell her. I remembered her words in 
regard to insanity. As I was descending the stair- 
way, she requested me to wait for her, she could 
not find the dining-room. " Pving the bell for the 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 97 

porter," I said, and I walked to the clerk, request- 
ing him to make as reasonable a charge as pos- 
sible, relating the outlines of my distress. He 
asked if some one else roomed with me ; also, if 
she was sick too, as she had not made her appear- 
ance at the table. 

u No, sir ; she is perfectly well ; she eat the 
victuals prepared for me to eat on the way." 

On hearing this he charged me only a small 
amount, saying that he would charge her enough 
to pay for us both. 

When I was at breakfast, she came in and 
screamed out : 

" Kate, I never intend to stop here any more. 
I never heard of such a bill as that clerk has 
charged me ; fifteen dollars from Saturday until 
Monday." 

" Go bring me my breakfast," she bawled out 
to a German boy. He said, u Look on your bill 
of fare, and I will fetch it." 

She paid no attention to him. She looked all 
over the dining-room. She exclaimed, in tones 
loud enough to be heard all around the dining- 
room: 

M Why don't they treat every one alike here ? 
They have set us down to a naked table to our- 
selves," she went on. 

The boy placed the bill of fare near her plate. 
I glanced carelessly at the lady whom she had 
pleaded insanity to. She too sat back, and 3^et 
where she had a good view of the speaker. The 
boy laid her bill of fare in her plate. 

" Read that, madam." 

She went on, " Kate, there is not much here, 
and you have got all there is on the table." 

It is the mission of some to talk and others to 
listen. Apparently the slender thread of the boy's 

7 



98 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

patience had given way, when he said, " Are you 
going to read your bill of fare, madam, and tell 
me what you want for breakfast ?" 

I looked at her and said, " I know I would not 
make such a goose of myself if I were you. Read 
your bill of fare ; the 'bus is waiting for us, you 
know." 

" I can't read," she declared ; " my father never 
taught me to read." 

I gently softened my tones, and begged the boy 
to guess at what she wanted, and bring her break- 
fast. 

As soon as he returned with her breakfast, I 
said, u Please see if the 'bus is ready for us." 

He soon returned, sa3 T ing, M The 'bus is ready 
to start, madam." He looked at me, M You have 
time to eat." I thanked him, I was done eating ; 
I asked him to please lift my baggage into the 'bus. 
She arose to follow me, having had only a few sups 
of coffee. We waited some time before the 'bus 
started, while she muttered to me, she believed 
it was done on purpose to keep her from eating, 
little suspecting me of dealing out the cards for 
her. 

When we got to Paris, Kentucky, we stopped 
at the Widow Thurston's hotel, where Mr. Green, 
of Pleasant Hill, requested me to stop. I said to 
Mrs. Thurston, " Will you be kind enough, if not 
asking too much of you, to let a boy carry my 
carpet-sack to Mr. Layor's. I have a letter from 
his father-in-law." 

" Do you know Mr. Green ?" said Mrs. Thurston. 

" Yes, madam," I declared. 

She sent the boy at once. As I passed Mrs. 
Thomas with no explanation, she called to know 
where I was going with that boy. I walked on 
in silence ; and she, reaching home a few days in 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 99 

advance of me, told all she met, the last time she 
saw me, I was following off a colored boy. 

After a tiresome journey I reached home. It 
was not the old home where I used to live ; for my 
mother had moved to my brother-in-law's. But 
it was home, dear, dear home, w^here mother was. 
I was only content for a moment, for my mind 
wandered back where my dear Myrtle was. 

My mother was in very feeble health ; but she 
met me at the gate w T hen she saw me coming home, 
and gave me a welcome — such a welcome as only 
a dear mother can give. 

"Ah! is this mother! Can it be possible that 
this is my dear mother !" I involuntarily exclaimed, 
as I noticed her pale cheeks, and sunken eyes, 
and bloodless lips. 

Yes, it was my mother ; I knew her, yet there 
remained scarcely a former feature. The voice 
was not like that I had been so accustomed to 
hear in bygone days. 

u I have mourned for you as lost, my dear child," 
came from those thin, pale lips of my mother, as 
she clasped me in her fond embrace. M But, thank 
heaven, I once more see you, my child." 



CHAPTEE X. 

BEREAVEMENT. 



I WAS home now, and felt free, and breathed 
easier ; and when I sought my couch to rest, I 
dreamed not of designing enemies and faces en- 
amelled with dissimulation, but of home, sweet 
home, and rest. The change of habitation and 



to 



*C. 



100 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

rest of mind I enjoyed soon made the color come 
back to my cheeks again, and I daily grew 
stronger. But my poor mother grew no better. 
Sometimes I imagined she was convalescent, but 
this hallucination could not remain long unde- 
scried, and my vague fears would return in all 
their gloom. Gradually the angel of death hovered 
round. I saw and knew too well that she must go, 
yet I could not bring myself to be resigned to 
that awful parting which I knew must come, and 
often declared mentally that I could not give her 
up. I thought I had borne as much trouble as 
was possible, and this added, I thought, would 
fill my cup too full. But God never sends trouble 
upon his children without the strength to bear it, 
and so this bereavement was allotted to my portion. 
Never shall I forget her words as she begged 
to hear my voice in prayer for her. All was silent 
except her low murmuring. She expressed her 
willingness to die and her faith in Him who had 
promised to forgive to the utmost all who come 
unto Him. Methinks I see that pale, sweet face 
now, as, in the agonies of death, she turned to me, 
and in almost unintelligible accents, begged to hear 
my voice in prayer for her. I could not, I thought 
I could not, but that pleading look she gave me 
was irresistible, and endeavoring, oh ! so hard, to 
repress the broken sobs that came to my lips, I 
tried to pray, and did pray, and when I arose, a 
sweet smile played about her lips. I seated myself 
by the window. The sky was flushed with the tints 
of early morn, and from every bush and tree, the 
birds poured forth a joyous song — for the garden 
was filled with them and they seemed wholly un- 
disturbed in their airy element. The flowers, 
freshened by the dews of night, and brilliant in 
color, seemed waiting for some eye to admire 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 101 

their beauty. Then my eyes wandered upon all 
around about me, drinking in the sublimities of 
Nature. I again went to the bedside and thought 
how hopelessly I had watched by my suffering 
mother's side,*but when the morning beams came 
I would wander away to hear the birds sing and 
to admire the richness of the roses. As I looked 
close I saw she breathed easier, and how thankful 
I felt at this moment. Two weary weeks after 
this ended her pilgrimage. How slow had the days 
and hours passed away and my weary eyelids sel- 
dom closed in sleep, day or night. I could not at 
times suppress the thoughts that came crowding 
in my mind one after another. Exhausted at length 
by agitation and vigilance, and fatigue of mind 
and body, I felt that I must sleep, and I begged 
if they saw any change in her to awaken me im- 
mediately. Afterward I retired and soon was in 
a disturbed sleep, when I felt some one lay their 
hand upon me. I arose and went to the bedside 
and saw a flush upon her sunken cheek. Her 
breathing was quick and short. I lingered near 
the bed while the clock kept tick, tick, tick, to 
eleven, and on this dreary night, and amidst suf- 
fering and untold agony, her spirit left her ema- 
ciated tenement of clay, for a holier and happier 
home above. 

The night was very sultry, and the beautiful 
stars shone bright in the summer sky ; but not a 
breath of air came through the windows to fan 
her feverish brow. The stars faded one by one, 
w T hile the light announced the approach of morn- 
ing. It was cooler now ; not much, although the 
heat was less intense. 

Almost unconsciously I turned from that cold, 
brown pile when the last clod was heaped, and 
wended my way to the home that would behold 



102 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

her no more. But that she was at rest I doubted 
not, and after the first few days of grief and gloom 
had passed, I could but thank heaven that she was 
freed from the terrible agonies she endured and 
the trials that continually encompassed her here ; 
for her life had been a hard one, not only in re- 
lation to pecuniary circumstances and the respon- 
sibility and care of her family, but there were 
other things, the remembrance of which invariably 
cast an impenetrable gloom over her spirit, which 
has seldom given way in many long years to the 
faintest smile. But all was over now. My heart 
aches, my head grows dizzy, and the vision of 
home grows dim and misty. Ah! I see the 
mound that is heaped above my mother. I see 
her calm, pale face, and patient hands folded 
meekly on her breast. I see the green myrtle and 
the rose that clambers o'er her grave ; and the 
cold, white marble, with the pale moonbeams 
flickering and dancing o'er it ; seemingly saying, 
" See an end of all perfection." 

Several months after this my father was found 
dead, hung on a fence-stake. It was suspected 
by some persons that he was hung for his money, 
as he was known to have several hundred dollars 
about his person, the day before ; but when found, 
there was none about him. Oh ! I am so heart- 
sick and weary, and I repeat, I have seen an end 
of all perfection ; but God has said, " Come, all ye 
that labor and are heavy laden, and 3^e shall find 
rest." " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, 
for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall 
find rest unto your souls." Glorious promises. 
I will take my burden and lay it at his feet, and 
trust in his holy promises and infinite mercy, to 
guide me through this world, and at last to that 
haven of peace where the u wicked cease from 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 103 

troubling and the weary are at rest." Immediately 
after the death of my parents, I proceeded to 
Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky. 

Wholly worn out, mentally and physically, I 
resolved to try to get my child. I knew it was 
almost folly to go that long distance on business, 
which was most sure to prove fruitless. I could 
not content myself. I can at all events try, I 
thought, and with this determination I set but 
and soon reached the place of my destination in 
Missouri. 

It was growing dusk when I reached the resi- 
dence of Mr. Payne, formerly mentioned. They 
gave me a hearty welcome as I entered their 
house again. The next morning I begged that 
Mr. Payne would go and get my child for me. 
He soon returned, stating that my husband had 
just gone in the Rebel army, and they were never 
going to let me have her again. I got him to go 
again and request them to send her with him and 
let me see her. I wrote a letter to my mother- 
in-law, and in it I washed that I might see the day 
that this war might separate her and every son 
that she had ; and that they might either be shot 
or taken prisoner, and she might be left to mourn 
the loss of her children, till she had as much 
trouble as she had caused me to see over mine ; 
and if they thought she had me whipped, thejr 
were very much mistaken, I should recruit and 
come again, when she little expected; that I 
would hunt Lane or Montgomery of Kansas, but 
what I would have my child. In the morning 
following, I proceeded to Kansas Territory, and 
joined the Wide Awakes, and promised to go into 
Kentucky, and take the Radical password and lay 
a trap for the Rebels. They said, if I completed 
that, I would give a greater blow to the Rebels, 



104 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

than Delilah did when she deceived Samson. Col. 
Sims was on the stage and recognized me as being 
the wife of John Griffin. He also said he was 
living near to me when I separated, and no one 
blamed me for the separation. But it seemed 
strange to him to see me such a strong Union 
woman, and my husband in the Rebel army. I 
told him while living with him I noticed he was 
almost always on the wrong side of every ques- 
tion, and in order for me to get on the right side, 
I shall just remain opposite. He and a gentleman 
were talking about trading in stock. He wished 
to know r if I was a good hand to trade. I told 
him I was never cheated but once in a trade, and 
that was when I got married. He said I ought 
not to be against my mother-in-law. I told him 
I was only fulfilling the Scriptures, and they had 
to be fulfilled. The Bible says, kindred against 
kindred, last of all the mother-in-law against the 
daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against 
the mother-in-law. He said if your enemy smite 
you on the right cheek turn to him the other also. 

I said that at Mr. Grinter's, when my mother-in- 
law tried to force me home, she hit me on the left 
cheek, and left the prints of her fingers on my 
face in a welt ; but it is not commanded to turn 
the right cheek, and I shall not do it. 

I stopped at the Union hotel, and every time 
I appointed a time to start I was disappointed. 
The clerk would tell me the wrong time to take the 
boat. I said I was not going to wait any longer, 
I would take the stage. He said the military had 
given orders to not let me pass, as I was from the 
State of Kentucky. They had suspected me to 
be a pro-slavery spy. My means at this time was 
limited to one dollar. I left the hotel and went 
into a house, and wished to know if they were of 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 105 

Lincoln's principles. I said if not, I wished them 
to direct me to some one that was. Then they 
directed me to Hon. R. T. Yanhorn, of Kansas 
City, who since is in the House of Represent a- 
tives, in Washington, D. C. 

I went to his house, and sought an interview with 
him. He was in his sick-chamber. After he heard 
my business was to obtain my child, and unfold- 
ing to him many secrets in the Union cause, and 
also the Radical password and decision, he handed 
me a paper to go to the levee near the river, stat- 
ing he was the owner of a boat that would go out 
at three o'clock that afternoon. I w r ent to his 
clerk and handed him the paper. He asked me if 
I was the lady from Kentucky. I told him I was. 

u I have orders to keep you here ; you can't go 
out on my boat," he declared. 

" I am going out on that boat. I have orders 
from higher authority than you ; I have permis- 
sion from the owner of that boat." 

" What was your politics before the war?" he 
demanded. 

u I was first a Whig." 

" Then what?" 

" A Know Nothing." 

" Then what?" 

II A Free Soiler." 
" Then what?" 

" I am a Wide Awake." 

Before he had time to ask another question, I 
said : 

" Tell me how a parsnip first entered in the 
State ?" 

He said he didn't know. 

I said it come in the seed. 

M You know the seed of a parsnip is flat, don't 
you?" 



106 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

He said he did not know what kind of seed a 
parsnip had. 

Another gentleman said I was right, the seed 
was as flat as any wafer. I turned away with 
composure, and said : 

"That is the way the Democrats are coming 
in. They are coming in flat.' 7 

They cheered me. 

The clerk said, they would have that in the 
paper before night ; to go back to the hotel and 
content myself; to come to the river at three 
o'clock, and he would write a letter and give to 
the captain to pass me out free. 

As I was walking through the boat, I saw him 
hand a letter to the captain. They sent me up 
the river above Wyandott. I didn't know the 
boat was connected with the cars. I thought 
when I started I would land in St. Joseph, Mis- 
souri, when I got into the boat. But in place of 
that, the fare was eleven dollars to St. Joseph. 
"My blood seemed to chill, as I became acquainted 
with the fact of having to pay that amount and 
having only one dollar. I went to a minister's 
wife to get her to intercede with the conductor 
not to put me off the train. Being overheard by 
a gentleman sitting near us, he said, ."Is that 
lady in distress ? I will pay the fare ; 'tis only 
eleven dollars ;" and when the conductor came 
round, he handed him the fare, without speaking 
a word to me. I thought to myself, this is like 
stories I have read of, where ladies have been be- 
friended, just when the train was announced at 
the depot. I was not so much accustomed to 
travelling then, as I have been since, to know the 
conductor was the proper one to go to, to learn the 
proper place to stop at, should I land in a strange 
place. While I was pondering in my mind what 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 107 

I should do, this same man came to where I was, 
and asked was that the place where I stopped. 
I informed him I had some distance to travel yet ; 
but owing to my limited means I should be com- 
pelled to stop awhile to get into employment, and 
I requested that he would inform me the best hotel 
in the city. He said he was going to the best one, 
he would conduct me there. As I was alone, I 
accepted his kind offer with thanks. He said he 
would pay for my supper and lodging. I thanked 
him, I didn't wish to run him to any further ex- 
pense. He had already put himself to more 
trouble for me than I had any idea of him doing. 
He requested to go to the clerk and have my 
name registered, for which I thanked him, I could 
see to it myself. But he went to the clerk, any 
how. The porter came to me and wanted to know 
if I wished to go to my room, which I did. I 
started the porter with my baggage. As I as- 
cended the stairs, I noticed this man with his va- 
lise in his hand and his overcoat thrown over his 
shoulder. I thought because we came to the hotel 
together, the boy was aiming to show each one of 
us our rooms at once. The porter stepped in and 
said, " Madam, this is j^our room with two beds 
in it." And as he lighted the gas, the man step- 
ped into the room, in the meantime, commenced 
drawing off his coat, when I said to the porter, 
" Have I come in the wrong room ?" The porter 
said, " No, this is the one that was ordered for 
you, madam." I remarked, "It is considered 
ill-manners for a man to draw off his coat in the 
presence of a lady, where I came from." He 
shoved out the porter, and said, " You go out 
of here," and endeavored to shut the door, and 
keep me in, but seeing it a thing impossible to 
prevent me from raising an alarm, and fasten the 



108 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

door, he opened the door. As I walked out, he 

said, M Madam, yon are a d d fool. No one 

would have been any the wiser. I had your name 
registered as me and lady." That posted me. I 
went to the clerk and requested him to give me a 
room to myself. I wished his protection till morn- 
ing ; I had but one dollar, I would give him that, 
and the next day, I would seek employment, and 
pay him the balance. He said to give myself no 
trouble, the man had already settled it for me, 
and he would not give it back to him. I also in- 
formed him how I came to be in this man's com- 
pany. This hotel was on a high hill, just a little 
distance from the depot. I am not sure, but I 
think it was called the Patent House. The clerk 
informed the landlord the next morning, and the 
man was driven from the hotel. The proprietor 
saw the agents of the road, and they sent me to 
St. Louis, free of charge. This was March, 1861. 
From St. Louis, a captain of a boat passed me to 
Newport, for the dollar. There I had acquaint- 
ances, and I borrowed money enough to take me to 
Mt. Sterling. They wished to know the news in 
Kansas Territory. I told them I was not among 
the suffering community there. Some of them 
wished to know how I travelled on such limited 
means. I told them I travelled on politics. 
When I arrived at Howard's Mill (my brother- 
in-law's), I found that all my relatives were pro- 
slavery, except one brother, who fought in the 
Union army. My brother-in-law that lives near 
the Mill, tried to force me to be of his politics. 

I set out in the commencement to neither be 
bought or sold. I was sent to deliver the password 
to the rebels, which I was determined to complete. 
I gave the right password but the wrong decision. 
This password was called the general password. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 109 

I went to old Gus Bondon's with the password, 
and he sent Joseph Glover through to the Vir- 
ginia lines. As soon as I heard he had gone 
through to circulate this through the Southern 
Confederacy, I went to Captain John L. Wil- 
liams, of the Fourteenth Kentucky Volunteers, 
and requested him to send it through the Union 
lines : that if a man professed to know the pass- 
word, that came into the Union lines, to make 
him give the decision ; that by this means he 
could soon detect a rebel. 

I went to my uncle's, and they thought me 
crazy when I told them I was for Lincoln. 

My uncle was going to Owensville, to a speak- 
ing. The night before he went I dreamed that 
I could see all around my uncle's house; and in 
one corner of the yard stood a paw-paw bush, 
and in the bush I saw a large snake, that looked 
very sly at me. It had one blue and black 
stripe around it. All of a sudden it came to my 
bed and attempted to slip under my neck. I 
caught it at the back of the neck and threw it out 
on the floor. 

My uncle said it was one of his children' hats, 
that I threw on the floor. When my uncle called 
me to prepare for breakfast, he choked me in fun, 
declaring I was going to get a choking. I beg- 
ged him to remain at home. From my dream I 
believed it a presentiment if he went to that speak- 
ing, he was going to get choked; that he would 
say something to some Union man, that he would 
get a whipping for. When he came home, in the 
evening, he said : 

" Kate, I got that thrashing you spoke of. 
Had it not been for your prophecy, it would not 
have been. 

u Things went pleasantly while in Owensville, 



110 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

and on my way home, I stopped at Shrout's gro- 
cery, a place called Buzzard Roost. There was 
a great crowd of men drinking, and some one re- 
marked, ' Douglas was not expected to live.' 

" I spoke up, not expecting he had any friends 
there, and said: 'A pity he had not died six 
months ago, and all of this fuss would not have 
been.' A man by the name of Barber jumped 
from behind the counter, and said, ' I can whip 
the man said that.' " 

The first thing he did, he choked my uncle. 
The next thing, hit him in the eye, leaving a gash 
all around his cheek-bone. Then he bit his thumb 
from joint to joint, and knocked him down and 
made him cry out " Enough," and that was the first 
time he ever said that word in his life ; and he 
declared if it had not been for my prophecy, it 
never would have happened. I declared myself 
innocent of the charge, but neither could I satisfy 
him or aunt either. She declared it was not the 
first prophecy of the kind I ever made about her 
family, and it came true ; they didn't like me on 
account of my politics. I told them the time would 
come, when they would not be as free to express 
their sentiments as a colored man would be. 

Soon after this, my uncle's two sons w r ent into 
the Rebel army, and got their satisfaction, took 
the oath of allegiance, and came home. Soon 
after I heard of a Southern woman threatening 
me if she ever heard me saying I was a Union 
woman, she would frighten me out of my wits. I 
took the pains to call on her, and asked if she 
said so. The house was full of pro-slavery people 
at the time, and she said yes, and wanted to know 
if I wanted one of her colored boys for a husband. 
I told her I had no use for one of them, myself, 
but as soon as another regiment of Union men 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. Ill 

passed through, I should send them to take them 
for me. She got a pistol, and wanted to know if 
I knew she was practising to shoot. I told her it 
didn't amount to anything. She said when all 
the Southern men got killed, the Southern women 
were going to fight ; they were determined not to 
be subjugated. I told her I was like Buchanan, 
the king's fool, very brave untried. I told her 
I would prove myself to be a brave woman, or a 
base coward, before the war closed. She pointed 
her pistol at me. I dared her to even snap it 
at me, and I would fight a duel with her after- 
wards, unless she shot me dead. Her husband 
made her put it up. Soon after she persuaded 
her only son to go to the Rebel army, and he never 
returned to her. He was shot. 

When the Union soldiers were passing through, 
she hid her husband under the floor. In order to 
let her know that I knew where he had concealed 
himself, I sent her word the snakes might bite 
him. I was riding on horseback soon after this, 
and had to get down to unlatch the gate. As 
she passed me by, she went in a sweeping gallop, 
till she came to the next neighbor's, supposing I 
had dismounted to prepare to shoot her. Soon 
after this a man met me in the road, and said the 
pro-slavery people ought to shut me in a house, 
so I could not talk. I told him that if he wished 
me to be in that condition to get the best horse 
and buggy in the neighborhood, and start with 
me, I would land him in a little house called 
Texas, not many of the Secesh knew of. Soon 
after this one of his most intimate friends was 
arrested and put into a little rail pen, and kept 
several days, and then he found out what the lit- 
tle house called Texas was. 

Soon after this he committed treason, was sent 



112 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

to prison, and died by drinking water that stood 
in a brass kettle. My brother-in-law, when he 
and a Union man would get into argument, would 
say, " You are just like Kate." 

He said the Vice-President, Hamlin, was a 
negro. In order to make sport of him I told him 
only his grandfather was a negro. He took his 
hat and left. He used to abuse the Union men, 
and when the Rebels were travelling through he 
hid his goods ; but as soon as gone, brought them 
out to sell to Union soldiers. I told him I should 
hate to hold up for a party I was sure would rob 
me. They had robbed him four times. 

I was stopping in Owingsville. Flem Bice ai*- 
rived home from Missouri. I was an inmate of 
his cousin's house, Billy Biehards by name. He 
was delighted to meet his cousin Flem. I went 
on with my duties with a calm face. I was changed 
from a laughing girl, and knew no happiness now 
but hope. He sat in his cousin's luxurious apart- 
ment and drank in silence the Bourbon whiskey ; 
and with the empty glass in his hand, he sat and 
gazed upon the glowing grate, musing on the 
memories of the past. I was delighted to hear 
him break out : 

" I had a terrible time with the Wide Awakes 
of Kansas. I can scarcely tell how I did make 
my escape from them. They had the rope around 
my neck once to hang me. 3y me being a Free- 
mason was all the way I was released." 

I suddenly encountered his gaze, and I smiled 
slightly and blushed deeply. He vowed revenge 
on all loyal men. I stamped my feet in impo- 
tent rage in answer to him, as he asked whether I 
was disunion. 

" No, I am a Lincolnite." 

He threatened to be revenged on all of them. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 113 

I had once been a mere pastime for him. I 
thought silently to myself, God has heard my 
prayers when I plead to Him to release me from 
my enemies. I had left them to His charge and 
could only ask in like manner : " Father, forgive 
them, they know not what they do." Everything 
went on very quietly so far. And step by step, 
he moved on, turned the corner and went into a 
grog-shop. He soon got into a row there with 
two Union soldiers, who reported him to the cap- 
tain. They gave him ten minutes to leave the 
town or else be shot. The next day the order was 
given for him to be hung or shot on first sight. 
But he concealed himself from them. A few days 
after this he sent my Rebel sister after me — that 
he had something on his mind he wanted to say 
to me. When I went, he wanted me to go to Mis- 
souri after his wife and two little children for him. 
I said with composure, u I cannot trust you to go 
there. Lost confidence is never gained with me. 
How many times in Missouri you pretended to 
be my friend and you were not. I might go there, 
and when I get there you might have my hus- 
band in wait for me. I cannot trust you to go." 

He hung down his head and said,' " Is that your 
only reason for refusing me?" 

" Yes, had you been a friend in need, I would 
at this time risked my life to save your wife and 
children, Rebels as they are. Little did you think, 
Flem, when we lived in Missouri, and you were 
enjoying all the luxuries this life could afford, 
that you would ever have to call on me, a poor de- 
jected woman, for help. Little did you think then, 
the time would come, and we would meet here at 
our place of abode, and you would be surrounded 
by foes, and in an enemy's country. Rut ' ven- 
geance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay. 7 " 

8 



114 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

His eyes seemed to lose their brightness ; they 
fell to the floor. u I shall once return good for 
evil. I will not treat you as you once did me. I 
shall not report you to your enemies. Go, make 
your escape if you can. But to let you know that 
you are in my power, I shall even inform you of 
your hiding-places. You sleep at night in one 
thicket and the next night you move to another, 
for fear some one has seen you ; and you sleep at 
night with a bundle of straw under your head. 
Your friends steal you something to eat, any way 
they can get the chance, and you never will know 
what I know you tried to do to me at Harrison- 
ville till it falls before your eyes in print. For the 
love of your poor dead mother, who has kindly 
treated me, I now let you pass. Go, and make your 
escape if you can. I will not report you to your 
enemies.' 7 

He reached John Morgan's Brigade, and at the 
time of Morgan's raid through Ohio, Rice was 
taken prisoner, sent to Camp Douglas, and kept a 
prisoner during the war. 



CHAPTEK XI. 

MY SECOND MARRIAGE. 

METHINKS I hear my young volatile reader 
exclaim as he further peruses these pages : 
" It is vindictiveness that has actuated the au- 
thoress to relate her history." 

But no, dear reader, allow me to tell you it is not 
a vindictive feeling that has prompted me to do it. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 115 

My life has been an eventful one, and I think will 
be interesting, and perhaps, a warning to some 
one ; and then it will help me in supporting myself 
and child. 

Shortly after my arrival home from Missouri, 
I was divorced, and was foolish enough to allow 
myself to be allured into an alliance with a 
widower, he being the father of seven children. 
I found very little more felicity there than I 
found with my first husband. The antipathy 
in this case was very natural, and consequent 
upon every similar occasion, and served me 
right for being united to a man that was so 
much older than myself. But I, like other women 
who unthinkingly pledge their affections to an 
unsuitable husband, could not see the impropriety 
of it then, and hence the result was just. His de- 
ceased wife was a cousin, and also a very dear 
friend of mine, and remarked to me a short time 
before her death, that she could die contented 
w r ere she assured that I would take her place 
when gone, and be a mother to her children. I 
didn't even give this request a second thought, 
for I had no idea of ever doing anything of the 
kind. But time changes the opinions of most 
persons, and I eventually became the second wife. 
The animosity entertained by the children to- 
ward me had a pecuniary source, and daily in- 
creased. I saw this, and tried to do my duty and 
gain their affection, but all to no purpose ; and 
after waiting a reasonable time for things to as- 
sume a milder aspect, I concluded there was no 
other remedy but to resort to a separation, as I 
had witnessed discord enough to retire from the 
service. I do not wish to throw any reflections 
on his children ; I would not for the world. It 
was but natural for them to act so, and no more 



116 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

than I would have suspected had I given the 
theme a second thought. I had tried to do a 
mother's part, and failing, I deemed it better to 
leave, than to remain where no more concord ex- 
isted, and to the discomfiture of others, too. My 
husband had listened to his children's misrepre- 
sentations of me giving abuse to his little chil- 
dren, of which he became convinced I was not 
guilty when it was too late. 

I had a dream, which decided for me. The 
reader may smile at my simplicity in being guided 
by a dream ; but it would eventually have been 
the same any way. I thought I was walking 
down a stream of muddy water, whose murky 
billows almost swept over me, as I strove to walk. 
When almost exhausted, I cast my eyes toward 
the shore, but the steep yellow banks on each 
side gave no encouragement, and I was doomed 
to perish ; but upon the bank lay the quiet golden 
sunbeams, and so I asked the rays to help me up, 
and in an instant I stood upon the bank in the 
midst of a beautiful field of flowers, whose fra- 
grance floated on the calm, sweet breeze, and was 
almost intoxicating. There was a large mirror 
that descended and stood before me, and looking 
I saw my olden features there, just as I looked 
when I was young, — the bright eyes, full cheek, 
with the bright carmine flush, all told of the 
happy bygone. And I saw an angel standing 
behind me oiling my hair, while it spoke sweetly, 
although in an unknown tongue. My hair hung 
down behind me, and had grown till it touched 
the ground. I was in male attire, with shoulder- 
straps on each shoulder. " Oh, I am in the good 
land at last !" I exclaimed vehemently, and then 
awoke to find myself still in this dreary world. 
The morning after, I took voluntary leave, paused 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 11 Y 

at the door a moment, looked out on the beautiful 
woods, all crimsoned in their autumnal robes, and 
thought there never was anything so beautiful. I 
mused on the beauties of Nature for some time, 
and then started with a resolve never to enter the 
same house again. I passed through the yard 
slowly, unobserved by any of them, and as I as- 
cended the top of a hill, my mind was on a fixed 
conclusion. What could I do ? I could not re- 
call the past. I was entirely free from them now, 
I thought, as I entered the door of one of my 
neighbors. After informing them of my inten- 
tion to live with my husband no longer, and that 
I had the greatest trouble both with him and the 
children, I thought it was to get me to relinquish 
all claims on his property. I said I had not mar- 
ried him for his property. If his whole farm had 
been divided into eight parts it would be about 
the size of a rich farmer's calf lot. We separated 
with no vindictive feelings, and passed the usual 
salutations when we met. ' I was not heart-broken 
over this separation, but immediately set to work 
for a livelihood, as I w T as wont to do. Two weeks 
passed slowly away. Some would say to me, 
" Are you sick, that makes you look so pale and 
sad?" I was not sick, but this being a second 
separation, I feared I would not get justice. 

After a few months of grief I could but thank 
heaven that I was released from hearing the com- 
plaints of his children to him who listened at- 
tentively to them at the time. Soon after this 
I proceeded to Mt. Sterling. It seems as if the 
darker the clouds are around us the more light is 
sent from above to dispel them ; and while I am 
speaking on this matter, let me beg the reader to 
believe that whatever the trouble or disappoint- 
ment, it will not last ; for the darker the night the 



118 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

brighter will be the day which follows. While on 
a visit near Howard's Mill (at my brother-in-law's), 
Travis Leach arrived home from Missouri. He 
stated that Missouri was altogether under mili- 
tary control, and several counties were laid waste ; 
that the order was given to all Southern people 
who had money to take themselves out of the State, 
and to leave soon ; others, who had not money, to 
move to Harrison ville, the Post. So my mother- 
in-law was one without money, and was then in 
Harrisonville, and had rations issued to her the 
same as to the soldiers, and when he left, she had 
not even a house to put her head into. He said 
he thought as she had my child to take care of, 
I ought to do something for her. 

" No," I ejaculated, " I shall go to Mt. Ster- 
ling at once and get a pass to go to Missouri.'' 
I proceeded to Mt. Sterling, and went to a Union 
camp, called for an officer and told him my busi- 
ness. He referred me to Major W. W. Carter. 
I rode to his tent, and told him I wished a pass 
to go to Missouri. With much dignity he replied, 
" Madam, prove your loyalty, and you can have 
one." I told him Captain John L. Williams could 
inform him who I was. The next morning, I re- 
ceived my pass. It is as follows : 

" Mt. Sterling, Ky., October 12th, 1863. 

" Pickets : Pass Mrs. Kate Plake, on any road, 
until further orders. 

(Signed) John L. Williams, 

14th Kentucky Volunteers, 

Captain and Provost Marshal.' > 

" I have known Mrs. Kate Plake, and believe 
her to be a true Union lady. She wishes to go to 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 119 

Missouri, to get her child ; the father of said child 
is said to be in the Rebel army, and I would like 
all military authorities in the State of Missouri to 
give her the assistance she may need to procure 
her child. 

(Signed) W. W. Carter, 

Major 5th Indiana Cavalry. 

(Approved) *Z. D. Strube, 

Captain 37th Kentucky Volunteers, 

and Provost Marshal." 

Immediately upon the receipt of this pass, I 
started for Missouri, in the melancholy month of 
October, before the rays of the morning sun had 
glanced over the neighboring hills, when the varie- 
gated tints began to fade away into the pale and 
sickly hue of the departing season. The harvest 
had already been gathered in. As the stage moved 
slowly along and the sun rose over the tops of the 
trees, now and then a cloud floated before the 
sun ; its shadows swept over the blue-grass pas- 
tures ; the brown leaves lay in great heaps on the 
ground. Oh ! look around upon the wonders of 
creation and confide in God; believe He who 
guideth the bird from clime to clime, will guide 
our soul unto its untried and unknown way. I 
made my way, meeting with no difficulty until I 
reached Syracuse, Missouri. Quantrell had made a 
raid and burnt the bridge, so many Union soldiers 
had been cut off from their command. It was im- 
possible to pass at first. I returned to Jefferson 
City, to take a steamer. There were only two 
boats runnning at that time. They were doing 
business for the Government, and the boat was 
ordered to St. Louis, instead of Kansas City. I 
returned back on the same road. The next time 
1 made out to get passage on the stage. I arrived 



120 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

in Seclalia. Some of the officers thought best that 
I should remain there and let them send through 
after my child by escort ; the country was in such 
commotion it would be impossible to pass. I 
waited two weeks. I got uneasy for fear my 
mother-in-law might be sent across the lines, and 
my child be sent with her. I knew the soldiers 
didn't know whose child it was. This same eve- 
ning I was seated in the cars coming into a little 
town called the Resident. The stage agent said 
he had better not let me pass, as I had a spy eye. 
I told him if he just knew what I did, in Ken- 
tucky, he would not refuse to let me pass. 

" Well, what did you do then ?» 

" Oh I nothing, only I turned the password 
wrong side outwards in Kentucky." 

He said, " You go along and get into the stage." 

At a late hour the stage drove into Warrensburg. 
I requested my name registered for the stage that 
night, which old Uncle Jake Engles, so called by 
name, failed to do. It proved a lucky thing for 
me. That night the driver was deprived of all 
his clothing, the mail robbed, the horses taken, and 
the stage left in the road. The next morning I 
went to Headquarters, requesting some convey- 
ance to pass me through the country. I ascer- 
tained that a wagon had left one hour previous to 
my request. I immediately returned for my car- 
pet-sack, and requested some one to put me on 
the Harrisonville road. I pursued my weary way, 
sometimes running and walking, till I came in 
sight of the wagon. My efforts were in vain to 
catch it. At length I met with two officers and 
old Mr. Engles, where I had stopped the night 
before. 

" Well, madam, are you the lady that stopped 
at my house last night ?" said Engles. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 121 

" I am, sir." 

" I didn't expect to see you walking here, carry- 
ing your carpet-sack." 

" Neither did I expect to meet you, sir, but any- 
way I demand that horse you are riding." 

He dismounted, handing me the bridle. " Per- 
haps, sir, you think I am jesting," and turning to 
the two officers, begged permission to press his 
horse, which I obtained at once after showing my 
pass and stating my business. I inquired if they 
had met with a wagon on ahead. They said they 
had. 

"Please tell me how far you think it is ahead." 

" About one mile and a half." 

I requested Mr. Engles to let me ride behind 
him till I could catch the wagon. 

He said, " I fear, madam, you want to take me 
from my wife." 

" I thank you, sir, I am not out on a courting 
expedition at present, and if I were, I should hunt 
for a younger man and also a better looking one 
than you are, besides that, a smarter one." 

This speech made him indignant. I told him 
he had only a moment to hesitate. I was a wo- 
man that it would not do to trifle with. I leaped 
into the saddle, and from there behind it, giving 
place to him, and requested that he would hand 
me up my carpet-sack and be seated in the sad- 
dle ; if he did not do that, I should take his horse 
and sell it to the Government. There was only a 
moment's hesitation after this remark, till he 
mounted the horse, and we went in a sweeping 
gallop. Soon coming in sight of the wagon, but 
descending into a little hollow, it hid me from 
their view. He stopped his horse suddenly, and 
noticing he was searching in my carpet-sack, he 
was carrying, I leaped from behind him and jerked 



122 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

my carpet-sack out of his hand. Being about 
twenty yards in advance, I ordered him to im- 
mediately turn back, as it would be better for him ; 
I was going to report him to the soldiers just a little 
way off. They had stopped the wagon to eat their 
dinner. The man started back at full speed. As I 
approached the wagon I called their attention to 
the man riding in such haste, and informed them 
of all that had happened. They were only going 
a little distance in the direction I wished to go. 
They conveyed me on to an old lady's, a short 
distance further on my route. They left me there, 
thinking the stage would be running in a few 
days. I watched the road two weeks, and not one 
individual passed, except a small boy, w T ho in- 
formed me there would be no stage running — they 
were going to carry the mail on horseback. The 
next thought then was, how would I get to the 
next post, as there was scarcely a house to be 
seen, so they said, from one post to the other. 

I made two garments for a colored woman and 
knit a pair of mittens for her, to get her husband 
to take me ten miles on horseback. There was no 
other horse in the neighborhood, and no other 
way but to ride behind him. We were to start 
before daylight the next morning. He said he 
was afraid for the Southern people to know that 
he helped me. On my way the next morning he 
•was to give me the Indian whoop, and I was to 
be ready to start early. When I reached the 
house, old aunty had her white table linen spread. 
I breakfasted; then she had a lunch prepared 
for me to take on the way. Before the first peep 
of day, I was two or three miles on my journey, 
riding behind my African pilot. He took me ten 
miles on horseback, to where there had been a 
post, but the soldiers had all moved to another 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 123 

post. This town was entirely deserted, except by 
one family. I made the inquiry which road to 
take. Being directed, I resumed my journey as 
a pedestrian. The country presented a desolate 
appearance along that route. I did not see or hear 
a bird or any living animal along the way. This 
is a great undertaking, I murmured to myself, as 
I traversed the dreary wood-path alone. But I 
shall not turn back. I am willing to endure the 
hardships of my journey if it can only be crowned 
with success. Difficult and wearisome enough was 
this travelling. I did not meet one individual on 
this route. I had come to one sign-post on my 
way. This was the only assistance I found. The 
next town was deserted, with the exception of a 
woman and a small child. She was unwilling to 
give me lodging for the night, but went a little 
distance to show a house where I could stop. It 
was a good distance off. I was so weary of 
walking and carrying my carpet-sack, several 
times I laid it down on the ground, almost tempted 
to throw it away. At last I reached the house 
and remained there until morning. Three gentle- 
men that were travelling remained there all night. 
The next morning I was assisted a little distance 
on my way to Pleasant Hill, by one of the gentle- 
men, when he commenced : 

" Madam, I am very sorry to set you down in 
this dreary wood-path alone, but I cannot assist 
you any farther unless by greatly discommoding 
niyself." 

He directed me on my way, and turned back. 
I was now entirely alone. I could but thank the 
kind Providence that I was preserved through 
many years of hardships and escaped divers perils. 
It now appeared to me that heaven in its goodness 
had determined on my future happiness and union 



124 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

with my dear child, once more. Now and then, 
coming in sight of Pleasant Hill, I moved slowly 
along. It was hid behind trees that skirted the 
woods. Just now a very old gentleman and col- 
ored man were coming in from the prairie. They 
wished to know who I was, and where I was going, 
and what my business was ; for it was an unusual 
thing to see a woman travelling alone, with a car- 
pet-sack, in those days. He thought I was a Rebel 
spy, trying to disguise myself so that I could 
get through the country. But he was soon satis- 
fied that I was a female. 

After leaving the old gentleman, I soon came 
to Pleasant Hill. I stopped at the first house I 
came to and called for refreshments, as I was al- 
most tired out. After supper they advised me to 
report at Headquarters, and request a passage 
through to Harrisonville on the first wagon, which 
I did, but found that there was none going for three 
days. I went to the nearest house and obtained 
lodging. In the morning the regiment was to 
start. I sought the Captain to obtain passage. 
But he took no notice of me. A soldier approach- 
ing me asked if I remembered seeing him. I rec- 
ognized him as being one of the soldiers before 
mentioned, that I saw in the wagon, soon after 
leaving Warrens burg. 

" Have you been all this time trying to get 
through the country ? it is upwards of two weeks." 

" Yes, sir, I have been trying my best to reach 
Harrisonville, and I do not see any other way 
than to walk through, as the Captain did not give 
me any encouragement." As I said this he called 
the Captain's attention, stating to him that I had 
been sent from Kentucky by the military author- 
ity, to get my child. " Please look at her pass." 

As he read the lines he said, " I had no idea 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 125 

that it was anything of the kind, there are so 
many people passing in different directions at 
this time. 7 ' 

" Would you prefer a closed or an open wagon, 
madam 1" 

u I would prefer an open one, to be seen all 
the way through.' 7 

No sooner were these words uttered than he 
gave orders to select a proper seat in a wagon, 
and for this same soldier to guard the wagon I 
rode in ; besides that, if one impudent remark is 
uttered in her presence, the soldier that utters it 
is to be shot. 

As the order came to march, the prairie winds 
swept over me. But I was protected with some 
of the Government blankets, that the soldiers 
wrapped around me. They said I would have to 
walk four miles after I parted with them. Their 
regiment was going on to Springfield. Every 
plantation they came to was searched over to find 
a horse for me. Their efforts being thwarted, 
they could see no other way but for me to 
walk four miles. When we arrived at the cross- 
roads they discovered a man approaching slowly. 
The Captain gave order to halt. They pressed 
the citizen's horse for me to ride on to Harrison- 
ville. He asked if I wanted to take the last 
horse he had left. I told him I only wanted to 
go to Harrisonville, and if he would be so kind 
as to assist me there, he might have his horse 
again. He saw this was all I wanted, and offered 
to w T alk and lead the horse for me. I thanked 
him for his kind offer, and told him if the horse 
would carry tYv r o, I would be willing to ride be- 
hind him, rather than have him walk so far. He 
took me on behind him. The soldiers told him 
that they would give him one more order, — that 



126 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

when he got to Harrisonville, to take me to the 
Commander of the Post, and introduce my busi- 
ness to him ; if I was left to hunt Headquarters. 
I would have to give an explanation, which might 
let the family know I was there, so they could by 
this plan conceal the child. He said that he would 
obey their request. They said if I met with any 
difficulty in getting my child, just write to Spring- 
field, and I could have all the assistance I needed ; 
that every man in the regiment would fight for 
me. I thanked them kindly for this offer and for 
their trouble in bringing me that far. 

When we reached Harrisonville, I proceeded to 
Headquarters, C. S. Clark, Lt. Colonel of the 9th 
Kansas Vols., Commander of the Post at Harri- 
sonville in 1863. I handed him my pass. The 
Colonel called for an officer to find out on what 
street my mother-in-law lived. The officer, Cap- 
tain Fletcher, started in search of my child. I 
begged him to introduce himself to my mother- 
in-law as an acquaintance of my husband, and 
request to see the child. I thought by that means 
he would not fail to find her. 

He soon returned with the desired information. 
He said they lived only four blocks from Head- 
quarters, and he had represented himself as a 
friend of my husband. They brought her to him 
at once. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 121 

CHAPTER XII. 

WHERE THE TWO WOMEN CLAIM THE SAME CHILD. 

COLONEL CLARK wanted to know if I would 
go for the child or send for it. I preferred to 
go, but not alone. The Colonel requested the same 
officer to go with me to the soldiers' headquar- 
ters, and order two certain men to go with me ; 
that he had never given them an order but what 
they had filled it. The two soldiers were ordered 
to accompany me and take the child. When I 
was assured of being protected I started. 

As we approached the house, I observed my 
sister-in-law and old Mrs. Williamson, her mother- 
in-law, standing outside the door. But I did not 
speak to them, so I think they did not recognize 
me at first. 

The guard authoritatively opened the door and 
we passed in. My father-in-law sat in the room 
we entered, also a young lady, Julia William- 
son, that I was acquainted with when I lived in 
Missouri, who instantly recognized me and ad- 
vanced to greet me. My sister-in-law entered the 
room at this moment, when, hearing my name an- 
nounced, she looked at me in perfect amazement, 
while a visible shadow passed over her face. 

" Where is my child they took away from me ?" 

As I made this announcement, her apparent 
astonishment and confusion vanished, giving 
place to the natural countenance. And after a 
brief pause, while her lips parted in utter conster- 
nation, she ventured to say, " How do yon do, 
Kate?" 

" I do not wish to engage in conversation with 



128 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

you," I declared ; " I came for my daughter ; I 
wish to take her home with me. You have had 
the pleasure of keeping her a long time." 

u I do not know where she is," was the mut- 
tered response. 

u Yes, you do. A friend of mine saw her but a 
few moments before I came. Where is your mother, 
that took my child from me ? I am now sur- 
rounded by friends, while you are destitute of any." 

" I was always your friend," she said. 

" Hush on such a friend as you. I heard from 
Mrs. Payne how you talked about me. I can send 
or refer people the short distance to Westport, Mis- 
souri. People there know what happened to you 
at your brother's ; that you were the cause once 
of him and his wife living separate. Besides that, 
you separated me and my husband ; but it has 
proved a blessing to me instead of a curse ; I have 
got rid of a bad bargain. Your mother talks the 
same way about your sister-in-law as she does 
about me. I was at Mrs. Cantrel's, Sarah's 
mother, in 1861, on purpose to find out about 
them. From what I can learn, they are a much 
respected family in Westport." 

"Well," she said, "they didn't live separate 
but a short time." 

" You didn't all think that when I was forced 
from door to door by the tongue of your mother's 
family, that I would ever be able to meet you on 
as equal terms as I do at this time. The punish- 
ment I received was all on your account. All 
of nry cruel treatment was caused to make me 
afraid to tell on you. What better off are you 
than I ? Even my wearing-clothes were kept for 
you, and you wore them out, and it is out of your 
power to harm me again. This is the town I once 
had no friends in 5 and you were the cause of it 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 129 

all. Where is your mother that has rny child away 
from me?" 

Just then I saw her approaching on hoi'seback. 
I stepped out of doors and was followed by the 
guards. They stood by my side as much as to 
say, " Touch her if you dare." As she came near 
me she recognized me, and said : 

44 How do you do, Kate ? Go in the house ; I 
w r ill come in presently." 

44 I do not wish to go in, madam. I have only 
come for my child — you have been depriving me 
of her long enough." 

44 If you have come after her you are not going 
to get her," she declared. 

She had changed her name, even into her own 
name. 

She continued, 44 Kate, you have only come 
here to give me trouble." 

44 Term it as you please, madam ; if it is any 
trouble to you for me to have my own child I 
cannot help it. I wish to raise her myself. I can 
place her in society that you never will be able 
to mingle with. I will educate her properly, what 
you will not have done. I judge you in the way 
you have raised your own children. I wish to 
bend the twig as I wish it to grow." 

44 1 shall go straight to Colonel Clark's head- 
quarters, and see you don't get her." 

44 1 thank you, madam, I am just from the Col- 
onel, with orders to take her." 

44 If it comes to fighting, I have as many to 
fight for me as you have, Kate." 

44 Oh no, you haven't ; your boys are all in the 
Rebel army. Your friends are few and far be- 
tween, while I have millions on top of millions ; 
besides I know your condition. I heard you 
was dispossessed before I left home ; besides that, 

9 



130 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

I came within four miles of this place with up- 
wards of a thousand soldiers going on to Spring- 
field. If I cannot get any one to take her for me 
here, all I have to do is to write there and get 
assistance. Thank heaven, I am prepared to take 
her." 

The guard tried to convince her it was the 
Colonel's orders for them to take her ; but she 
paid no attention to them, and went straight to 
Headquarters. I requested one of the guards to 
follow her, and see that she had no opportunity 
to conceal my child as she went ; also, to please 
send more soldiers to help me to search for her, 
and I, and the other guard, would stay and see 
they had no chance to conceal her from me. They 
had been gone but a moment, when I saw some 
children playing down on the prairie. I requested 
the guard to remain and guard the house, and see 
they did not conceal my child, and I w r ould look 
among the children for her. I heard my sister-in- 
law say, in a low tone, u She will get her now." 
At the moment I caught the sound of her voice, 
as she said " she will get her now," I was con- 
vinced she was among them. I requested the 
guard to come with me. She is there. The guard 
said, "How do you know she is there, by the 
word she will get her now ?" 

" That is how I know it. I could feel no surer 
than if they had said she was there." 

A moment's walk brought us to the spot. 

" Is Mrs. 's granddaughter here ?" calling 

mother-in-law by name. 

" Yes, madam, there she is," said a little girl, 
pointing her out to me. 

I went to my child, and pushed back the mat- 
ted hair from off her brow, and looked into her 
face. But three years had made a great change 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 131 

in her countenance. Had not circumstances proved 
her mine, I would not have known her again. I 
took hold of her and drew her close to my bosom. 

" Do you know that I am your ma ?" 

" I didn't know I had a ma." 

" Didn't your pa ever tell you that he took 
you from me, and gave you to your grandma?" 

" No, he didn't tell me I had a ma." 

" What are you doing here ?" I asked. 

" Us little girls came out here, to get beads and 
string them to wear around our necks — little red 
fox-berries." 

I did not know how to get her attention drawn 
towards me. I gave her some candy, talked to 
her about going home on the cars ; that she would 
go almost as fast as a bird flying. She very soon 
became interested, and I led her to Headquarters 
without any trouble. When I reached there my 
mother-in-law was pleading for the child with the 
Colonel. As the two women in the days of Solo- 
mon, she only claimed it as her grandchild, while 
I claimed to be its mother, and she had kept the 
child from me three years, by force. I remarked, 
I would choose the Colonel, as a Solomon, and if 
he was as wise, he would give the mother her 
child. 

My mother-in-law claimed that I was not capa- 
ble of raising my child. I said, "-If I am not com- 
petent to do it, I should like some lady to take 
your place, then." She then began to make some 
very rough charges against me. 

"Madam," I said, while every nerve in me 
quivered with agitation, " I think you have perse- 
cuted me enough; besides that, our Christian 
emblem says, a slanderer is excluded from the 
gates of heaven, even from truth. I shall let 
other people talk about you and your daughter ; 



132 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

besides that, I feel that I am too prudent a woman 
to make rise of the imprudent remarks that I 
would have to make use of to tell what has hap- 
pened, both to you and in your family. You and 
your daughter both will be here but a short period 
before you are found out, if you are not already 
known. Besides that, I don't care more for 
what you say, nor for you, than I do for the 
ground under my feet. If you do talk evil against 
me, I shall not come down on a level with you ; I 
will act so no one will believe you." I arose, trem- 
bling with agitation and excitement. " All that 
you have punished me for, some day shall come 
out in print." The very thought of that raised her 
animosity, and she sprang towards me, and jerked 
my bonnet off my head and hit me in the eye, but 
it was only a glancing blow ; then she attempted 
to pull my hair. I stepped back from her. I sup- 
pose she thought me trying to run. I tucked up 
my hair ; as she came towards me again, I caught 
her by the back of her head and locked each little 
finger in the hollow of her neck, and pressed hard 
under her ears, and she fell to the floor, like a beef. 
It passed through my mind how she separated 
myself and husband. She had robbed me of every- 
thing I had on earth, and had kept me and my 
child separated three years, and still was stand- 
ing claiming her. Yet she had the impudence to 
attempt to hit me again. Patience had ceased to 
be a virtue, when I thought of the impositions I 
was once compelled to bear, when on a bed of 
affliction. I went into a room where the guards 
were, and asked one of them to please give me 
a pistol. They said they had none nearer than 
the soldiers' headquarters. I asked them to give 
me a knife ; then they said they had none. See- 
ing a sabre standing in the corner, I took it and 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 133 

started to the door, and said, " I can cut off her 
head with this, then she shall never give me any 
more trouble,' 7 but was followed by the guard and 
prevented. He wrenched the sabre out of my 
hand, and said, " You shall not do that ; you will be 
put in the State prison." I walked in and caught 
her by the back of the head, and in an instant she 
was down on the floor. I had her down on the floor, 
and was pulling her by the head, and I intended 
to sit down on her head and make her cry out 
enough, and then let her get up, when the Colonel 
came and gently remarked, " Kate, it doesn't look 
well to see women fighting." 

u No, it does not, Colonel, and this is the first 
attempt I ever made, through all the impositions 
I have ever met with. She has forced me to it, 
and I have been sent to the Commander of the 
Post, and am willing to be governed by his judg- 
ment. If you say thrash her, I will do it, and if 
you say withdraw, I shall take my seat." 
• " I say withdraw." 

I sat down, and he gave the order for mother- 
in-law to take my child and go home. No sooner 
was this order given, than I arose to my feet, and 
as mother-in-law opened the door to obey orders, 
I shut it to, and pushed her back with my child, 
and said with composure, "You can go, but you 
shall not take my child with you." 

The soldiers had gathered together to discover 
the cause of the commotion ; while the Comman- 
der bore it like a hero, without bustle or agita- 
tion. Every once and awhile he repeated his 
order for her to take the child and go home, while 
I stood in a determined position, to prevent her 
from going. He said : 

u Kate, I am the Commander of the Post here. 
I gave orders for her to take that child home." 



134 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

" I am the owner of that child, sir. That is the 
worst thing you could do, to give my child to 
her ; for I have come here for one of two things : 
I have come to take my child peaceably, if I can 
get her that way, if not, I am like the Dutch in 
one respect, I am determined to take her forcibly. 
Just for one moment think, here are two women 
claiming the same child, and I shall choose you 
as a Solomon ; and if you are as wise as Solomon, 
you will decide the matter right, you will give 
the mother her child ; and I repeat, such a woman 
shall not raise my child." 

The Colonel spoke cheerfully: "Gentlemen, 
this is the first case I have known of since the 
days of Solomon ; but I say, let her go home ; my 
motive is intended for your good in giving that 
order." 

" I don't see how you can think so. I cannot. 
Colonel, you promised me to take her for me, and 
sent me after her, and you have given her the 
order to take her back home again." 

u Let her go, aii€l as soon as gone, I shall give 
you my reason in sending her home with her. I 
will send for her again for you." 

" I am afraid to let her go with her," I pleaded, 
" for fear she would take her off." 

" She knows my order too well to do that," said 
the Commander ; " she is not allowed to go far- 
ther than five miles, under penalty of being shot. 
Let her go, and she will not get farther than the 
gate till I explain my reason for sending the child 
with her." 

" I shall let her go, and if your object does not 
suit me, I will follow after her and I will take my 
child back." Mother-in-law vanished. He asked, 
"Did you not say that you landed here with only 
fifty cents ?" 



MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 135 

" I did, sir." 

" That is my reason for sending your child 
with her. You have no place prepared to stop at 
yourself, and as soon as you get in circumstances 
to take care of her, I will send and take her for 
you again." He requested Captain Fletcher to 
go to Lieutenant Hanah's hotel, and ask them 
to let me stop there, and to tell them he would 
settle the bill. I found him a perfect gentleman. 

The next morning I got employment to defray 
expenses while remaining there. Several times 
some one came to find out if I ever expected to 
get my child. I told them I had the promise she 
would be taken for me, from one on whom I 
could depend would comply with his promise; 
while they would tell me mother-in-law was 
hiding my child under the bed, and she was car- 
1*3 ing a large knife for me, which caused me very 
little terror. I knew the Colonel had grven her 
orders not to come to the hotel where I was, and 
his special order was if she did come, she was to 
be shot. In three weeks the Colonel sent seven 
soldiers after my child and brought her to Lieu- 
tenant Hanah. They did not charge me board 
for her nor nrvself. 

Lieutenant Hall, under Colonel Clark's com- 
mand, on hearing my mother-in-law was still re- 
porting me crazy, believed it, or pretended to, 
and attempted to make sport of me, and I noticed 
this, so I tried to get the best of him. I said to 
Mrs. Hanah, one day, " I wish 3^ou would introduce 
me to all of 3 T our acquaintances, as crazy Kate, 
I would like to make sport of that officer." One 
day Mrs. Robertson came in, and Mrs. Hanah 
arose and introduced me as crazy Kate, and also 
Lieutenant Hall, to Mrs. Robertson. 

The Lieutenant sat and stripped his mustache 



136 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

through his fingers, and a lock of hair fell care- 
lessly upon his forehead ; he sat and stripped it 
through his fingers, going through the motion as 
if he was pulling off creepers and mashing them 
in his teeth. Mrs. Robertson asked me a great 
many questions. In a moment I anticipated what 
her motive was. But on finding me prepared with 
answers for all her questions, she declared that I 
was not crazy. 

46 Why is she represented as such ?" she went on. 

" Didn't you hear that her mother-in-law re- 
ported her crazy because they took her child away 
from her ?" was Mrs. Hanah's muttered response. 

"I never heard of her before to-night," said 
Mrs. Robertson. 

u Mrs. Hanah, come and go a part of the way 
home with me. I will not wait for Captain Rob- 
ertson." 

All she wanted was to ask questions about me. 
They started. In a few moments Mrs. Hanah 
returned home, and said, u I have the best joke 
in the world." 

44 On whom?" asked Lieutenant Hall. 

w On you, down on South Street — tol lol lid- 
die," sung Mrs. Hanah, " on you, Lieutenant 
Hall." 

44 I know what it is, since you mentioned South 
Street," declared Hall. " I was at a negro dance. 
I tried to get negroes to dance, and they wouldn't. 
I shall not tell the balance of it." 

He offered Mrs. Hanah two dollars and a half 
to not tell the joke. 

u I would not keep it from Kate, for two dollars." 

He offered five dollars if she would keep it. She 
still refused. He offered her six cans of oysters 
to not tell it ; they were one dollar a can. " I will 
accept that offer, if you will let me send for Mrs. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 13T 

Robertson to come to supper," said Mrs. Hanah, 
" and the lady that told me the joke." 

The Lieutenant started off for the oysters, and 
soon returned with six cans, at one dollar a can. 
While he was gone I coaxed Mrs. Hanah to tell 
me the joke, as he threatened to qualify them 
both never to tell any one living. I suppose 
something had happened him some way on South 
Street, and she happened to hit on the right string. 

A crowd were invited, and Mrs. Robertson en- 
tered. Hall made each one of them swear to 
keep the joke always — to never tell any one — 
leaving himself entirely ignorant of what it was ; 
and Mrs. Hanah was soon in the dining-room, 
preparing the supper. I whispered to Mrs. Robert- 
son to try and get Hall out of the dining-room 
long enough to give me a chance to tell the joke 
to the guests. In an instant she was in the dining- 
room trying to get Hall out of the room, and soon 
completed it by calling him in the room, saying to 
come and show them how to prepare his oysters to 
suit him — they didn't care for none of the rest of 
the crowd being suited so he was — as he had gone 
to the expense for them. In the meantime, I had 
all in the room posted, that all the joke was, Lieu- 
tenant Hall was called crazier than I was, by Mrs. 
Robertson. All the guests were seated around the 
room, except the officer, Mrs. Robertson, and my- 
self. We were in the most conspicuous place in 
the room — we were seated in tbe middle of it. 
Yery soon Lieutenant Hankins and Sergeant 
Laws joined our group. Lieutenant Hall began to 
pull his mustache, that had caused Mrs. Robert- 
son to call him crazy. 1 spoke to Mrs. Robert- 
son loud enough to have been heard all around 
the room. Hall spoke up and said : 

u What was your remark, Kate ?" 



138 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

" Lieutenant, I don't chew my tobacco twice. 
You are absent-minded, or else you would have 
heard me." 

Laws spoke without a smile : " That is one part 
of the joke, 'absent-minded,'" while the whole 
room rang with perfect laughter, and Hall enjoy- 
ing the joke, thinking they were making sport of 
me being crazy. I laughed more than usual and 
asked to be excused. " I am a little crazy any- 
how," and I nodded my head at Hall, throwing 
the whole stress on him. Sergeant Laws spoke, 
and yet he did not smile, and said, "That's one 
part of the joke, crazy." (Laughter.) " Laws, if 
I had a button, I would give it to you," I declared. 

"What for?" he said. 

" For helping me out of this scrape. I think it 
is worth a button." 

Lieutenant Hankins arose and pulled one off 
Laws's own vest, and handed it to him and said, 
"I think it is worth a button, too, and I will give 
you one." Laws didn't yet smile. He said in a 
distressed tone, " I didn't want one off my own 
clothes." (Laughter.) I promised to sew all of 
the buttons on his clothes, that came off, free of 
charge, as long as I remained in Harrisonville. 

Supper came on, and the party wound up by 
Laws declaring that a crazy person like me, could 
do anything they wanted to. So that night I 
was to dream the joke, and tell it at the breakfast 
table, and prove it by Mrs. Hanah, if I dreamed 
right. Hail didn't make his appearance at the 
table the next morning, for fear I would dream 
right. Nothing was said to him for two weeks ; 
and one day he sat looking very sad, and re- 
quested me to go to the Commander and persuade 
him to give him a furlough, to go home and see 
his wife j he had been trjdng and could not sue- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 139 

ceed in getting it. The Colonel never denied any- 
thing he requested him to do before ; he didn't 
know what had got the matter with him. I said 
" I think I can tell you, Lieutenant, what is the 
matter with him. You know that joke they have 
on you. It's most awful. Quite likely he has heard 
it, and it has injured you with him. One thing I 
am sure of, if it does get to Headquarters, and it 
is proven to be the truth, you will not be consid- 
ered competent to hold your commission in the 
army." This made him uneasy. I proved the same 
by Mrs. Hanah. I told him if he only knew what 
the joke was they had on him, he might remedy 
it a very little. He wanted Mrs. Hanah to tell 
him what it was; but she refused to tell him — she 
could not break her oath, for anything in the 
world ; that he should have learned what it was 
before he made her take the oath; "none but Kate 
can tell you w r hat it was." 

" How r does she know anything about it f" 

" I informed her of it while you were gone after 
the oysters ; I thought she ought to know it, as it 
was a little concerning her." 

I declared I would not tell him unless he paid 
me to tell. him, for he had paid the other two 
ladies three dollars apiece to never tell any one, 
and if he would give me one dollar I would tell 
him what it was. 

He handed me the one dollar. I said, " Sold 
again. You were only called crazier than I was." 

It only cost him seven dollars for being called 
crazier than I. He held out his hand to me for 
friendship, if I would never start any more jokes 
on him, declaring he was more plagued than if it 
had been something. 

The morning after this, Dr. Wakefield called, 
— a surgical operator in the army. He said if Mrs. 



140 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

Wakefield only knew he called to hear me talk, 
she would make a fuss about it. 

" Not if she was acquainted with me, she would 
not." 

u Why not ?" said the Doctor. 

"Because those that are acquainted with me 
form no such opinions ; and if she says anything 
to you, send her to me; I can soon settle it." 

" What would you do to her ? Would you whip 
her?" 

" No." 

" Would you stab her ?" 

"No." 

" Would you shoot her?" 

u No." 

" Well, tell me what you would do to her, then ; I 
think too much of my wife to send her in danger." 

" I would play Mormon with her." 

"What is that?" 

" I will propose a swap. I will tell her I will 
give her my husband for hers. I left one in Ken- 
tucky, and if that does not suit her, I under- 
stand that I have one hiding around here in the 
brush. I will give her two for one." 

That was the first he knew I had been married 
twice and separated. 

Soon after this my sister-in-law was married to 
a private soldier. Her first husband died soon after 
I left my first husband. She came to the hotel to 
get me to let her take my child with her to get 
some candy. But I refused to let her go, stating 
that the soldiers had given her several pounds, 
and she had no need of any. She said she thought 
it hard for me to refuse an aunt such a favor. 

Every nerve in me quivered with agitation, as 
I said, " Do you pretend to place yourself as being 
nearer to my child than I am ?" 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 141 

" She feels as near to me as my own child does, 
having kept her such a long time." 

" Did I not come from Kentucky, in 1861, and 
was deprived even the privilege of seeing my 
child. She was forced from my bosom, at nine 
months old. What do you suppose my feelings 
were ? She is in my own possession now and no 
thanks to any of you. And I intend to keep my 
child in good society. She shall never have any- 
thing to do with you nor any of the rest of your 
family." 

The old soldier, Johnny Jackson, said, " I think 
you are complimenting me, very highly." 

" Yes, but nevertheless, it is true." 

Lieutenant Hankins said, " Stick to your child, 
Kate." 

They saw every soldier around me ready to 
stand at my back, if they made an attempt to try 
to get my child ; and they left me to enjoy my tri- 
umph. Lieutenant Hankins made up a considera- 
ble sum of money to assist me home with my child. 
If any one doubts any of the statements of the 
facts here mentioned, let them write to Harrison- 
ville, Cass County, Missouri, to Captain Robert- 
son, or any other name mentioned. They will be 
able to ascertain my statements are correct. They 
sent me through by escort to a little town called 
Clinton, Missouri, as there was no stage running 
from Harrisonville. On our way, the Captain 
sighted me to a thicket, where he saw a small 
party of men. We supposed at once that it was 
my husband in wait for me, to try to get my 
child. I begged that he would give me a pistol, 
as he had two. He wanted me tell him what I 
wanted with it. I threatened to take deliberate 
aim at nry husband, and prevent him getting my 
child again. He requested me to describe his 



142 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

features to him and he would do the work for me. 
He said before they got to fighting, they would 
have to leave the wagon, to keep the bullets 
from myself and child. He said there is five in 
number, and I and all of my men have sworn to 
be your friends and protect you. In the mean- 
time, I had resolved to myself in the midst of the 
fight to drive back to Harrisonville, and leave my 
child and wagon, and get enough men to scour 
the woods over, and mount a cavalry-horse and 
lead them to the spot ; but each party sent out a 
man to manoeuvre till they met and gave the 
countersign. They were Union citizens, hunting 
up hogs. I soon reached Seclalia, and found Mrs. 
Colonel Phillips. She requested me to remain 
there several days, her husband was going to do 
something for me. I shall give the following lines, 
that will inform you what it was. The Colonel 
also gave me free transportation to St. Louis. 

" Sedalia, Mo., December 16th, 1863. 

" Ladies and Citizens op the Union League, 

of St. Louis, Mo. 

" The soldiers and citizens of this Post have do- 
nated a considerable amount to assist the bearer, 
Mrs. Kate Plake, recently of Mt. Sterling, Ken- 
tucky, to proceed on her journey to Harrisonville, 
Cass County, from which place she has just re- 
turned, having accomplished the object of her 
journey — the recovery of her little child, who had 
been separated from her through the efforts of her 
Rebel relatives. She now goes to St. Louis, and 
we consign her to your generous guardianship. 
Her idea is to obtain work at the Government 
clothing manufactory; but we have very little 
faith in her being able to support herself and child 
in such employment in St. Louis. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 143 

" As she brings with her good reference from 
the authorities of her locality in Kentucky, our rec- 
ommendation is, that she be sent there at once. 
"By order of Colonel Phillips. 

"By Lieutenant S. K. Hall, 

Seventh M. S. M. Cavalry." 

In searching for the President of the Union 
League, I met the Quartermaster-General, who 
gave me a note as a kind of indorsement to the 
letter. 

"Headquarters State of Missouri, 

Office of the Quartermaster General, 
St. Louis, Mo., December 19th, 1863. 

" I am well acquainted with Lieutenant Hall, 
Seventh Cavalry M. S. M., and have no doubt of 
the correctness of his statement in reference to 
Mrs. Kate Plake. 

(Signed) " E. Anson Moore, 

Quartermaster General of Missouri. " 
( To whom it may concern. ) 

I soon reached home, and my second husband 
and I passed the usual salutations when we met. 
I saw wherein I could still be a benefit to my 
country and its cause. 

I went on business to see the Governor, at 
Frankfort, Kentucky, and received the following 
letter. He said I was accepted into actual service 
to go wherever I saw I could be any benefit : 

"Commonwealth of Ky. , Executive Department, 
Frankfort, Kentucky, August 17th, 1864. 

Major General S. G. Burbridge, 

Lexington, Kentucky. 
" General : Mrs. Kate Plake has a plan which 
you can doubtless make of great value. She 
comes well recommended, and I am satisfied that 



144 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

she may be employed and render invaluable ser* 
vice in the way proposed by her. I have directed 
her to see you and lay her plans fully before you. 
" Respectfully, 

" Thomas E. Bramlette." 

" Headquarters Kentucky State Secret Service, 

Frankfort, Kentucky, August 29th, 1864. 

" General Heintzleman. 

" General : The bearer of this, Mrs. Kate 
Plake, comes tome well recommended, and desires 
to engage in the secret service. The plan she pro- 
poses is, I think, a good one, and I am of the 
opinion that she can render good service. She 
has been in the service heretofore and has success- 
fully carried out some very important plans. She 
will explain the idea of the mission she proposes 
going on, which I think may be of importance. 

I am, very respectfully, yours, 

" J. K. Edwards, 

Colonel and Chief of Kentucky State Secret Service." 

I was in a strange place and no one to recom- 
mend me. I tried some time to get into employ- 
ment. Some would say, " I don't want you with 
your child." Others would say, " I would prefer 
to get some one I am acquainted with." I re- 
turned to my room. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 145 

CHAPTER XIII. 

MY SECRET THOUGHTS. 

rpHE sun was sinking behind the western slope, 
J_ and gradually giving way to the calm and 
beautiful twilight hours, and as I watched the 
shadows lengthening an irresistible chill crept o'er 
my soul. I felt ready to exclaim with the Psalmist, 
" I have seen an end of all perfection." Once I 
had a kind father, a tender loving mother, dear 
brother and sisters, a husband, and very many 
kind friends. But where are they now? They 
either sleep beneath the cold sod, or wander wholly 
oblivious of me. I am left alone to contend with 
the elements of this cold world as best I may, 
with none to love me save my little child ; none to 
speak a word of sympathy or encouragement. 
Alone, homeless, penniless and disheartened ; no 
friends, no guide but the one above, who has 
promised, "that none shall seek him in vain." 
Oh, well do I remember, away in the long ago, 
when my mother clasped me to her breast, and im- 
plored the good Lord to spare her little one, and 
shield her from all the sorrows and trials of this 
life ; and I thought in my childish innocence, as I 
saw the great tears fall from her eyes, ah ! I shall 
ever be thus happy ; for mother has asked, and she 
says God will hear the prayers of the righteous, 
when they seek earnestly. But alas ! that vain 
delusion. But I shall not murmur. I know my 
life has been a hard one ; but God is good, and 
doeth all things well. 

I left my room and picked up the paper, and 
noticing the Governor was in the city, going to 
deliver a speech, I went to the Louisville Hotel 

10 



146 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

and sought his hospitality. He transported me 
free to Frankfort, and told me to stop at the 
Capitol Hotel till he could see what he could do. 
When he arrived home, I went to his office, and 
received the following letter : 

" State op Kentucky, Executive Department, 

Frankfort, Ky., August 21st, 1865. 

" The bearer of this, Mrs. Kate Plake, who 
comes to me well recommended as a true Union 
lady, is desirous of getting a home for her little 
daughter, a sprightly little girl of six years of 
age. I trust some charitable person will adopt 
the little girl, and give her the benefit of an edu- 
cation and a home. The blessing of an orphan 
will ever richly reward the charitable heart for 
such benefits aptly bestowed. 

" Thomas E. Bramlette." 

He also inclosed ten dollars in the letter, and 
told me to publish it in the paper — the letter was 
reference enough to get me employment. That 
was when I concluded to bring my history before 
the public. My intention in writing this book 
was not to set forth vindictive sentiments ; but 
to aid in my support. I would not bring any mal- 
edictions upon any of my persecutors, and that is 
why I have been thus careful. Although our sins 
be as crimson, they shall be as snow ; though the} r 
be like scarlet, they shall be white, like wool ; and 
in that heavenly land, that I shall never cease to 
strive for, I hope to meet them all there, free from 
that evil principle which actuated them to commit 
the wrongs done here. 

Soon after this letter was written by the Gover- 
nor, I was stopping with Rebels, and I told them 
I had been a female detective, but was not em- 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 147 

ployed in anything of the kind then ; I had with- 
drawn from service while in Frankfort. I heard 
them plotting how they would get the advantage 
of me, and they plotted to have a Southern doc- 
tor and Southern witnesses, and represent me 
crazy ; they would have things plainly understood 
with all the witnesses before they made things 
public. In that way, they would give me no 
chance to prove myself clear. I was to be kept a 
prisoner all my life ; that was to be my punish- 
ment for going against them. I waited to hear 
no more, but walked leisurely till I got off the 
door-step, and went into a kitchen where colored 
people were, on the opposite side of the street. 
I told them I had been a female detective. They 
soon informed me their mistress was a Rebel. I 
told them to make an excuse, if she came, in that I 
wanted something to eat. That instant she came 
in to ask me what I wanted in her kitchen. The 
colored woman asked her if she would be pleased 
to give me something to eat. While she was gone 
to get something, I got this colored lady's son to go 
to a Union camp and report their plan to prove 
me crazy ; and I sent them word to send a certain 
surgical operator in the army — I wanted a Union 
doctor to judge wiiether I was craz}^. The boy 
started off to report. The woman entered with 
a buttered biscuit and a ripe peach, and went 
back in the house. The colored woman thought 
best that I should make my escape. I started 
with a resolve to try to make my escape to a 
Union camp for protection ; and as I passed 
around the house to go out of the gate — I suppose 
the people of the house had been acquainted with 
the plan, for the man and his wife were both 
standing guard, ready to prevent me from going 
out of the gate — they gave me the order not to 



148 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

attempt to go out of the gate. I put my hand in 
my pocket and dared either of them to step one 
foot off the steps ; and they let me pass. I had 
got several squares down the street, and being 
followed by two Rebel citizens, they triumphantly 
dragged me back, cursing me, and saying, " You 
have been a United States detective, have you ! 
d n you !" 

" Yes, I have," I declared, " and I dare you to 
just slip one hair out of its place, out of my head. 
I have got you reported, sir." 

" Who have you reported me by ?" 

" That is my business — make me tell it. I 
know the Radical password and decision ; make 
me tell that if you can." 

By this time about twenty-five people were 
coming along behind me ; and this same colored 
woman among them. I said, " You need not think, 
sir, such a crowd of people are here, and none of 
them are Union. I have one friend in the crowd, 
sir. There is one here will report anyhow. The 
colored woman gave the signal she would." 

u Who is your friend that will report ?" 

u Make me betray a friend if you can ! No, not 
if you were to put my head under the fence, you 
could not make me tell who it is. I have sent 
for a Union Doctor, to come early to-morrow 
morning, and if I am not released then, I have 
sent for enough Union soldiers to tear every brick 
from the top of the house to the bottom, if I am 
not released. I shall only stay in your charge 
one night. It is no joke, I have you reported." 
They locked me in a room, till the Doctor called. 

The next morning he wanted to see me, but he 
was refused. At first they said I was crazy, but 
he said he wanted to see for himself. The door 
was opened for him. One of these Rebels came 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 149 

with him to the door, to hear all I said to him. 
I told him to listen if he wanted to, I didn't fear 
to talk before him. I said, u Doctor, they called 
on me for my valuables. I told them I had none, 
only my copyright. I had secured it in the hands 
of A. J. Ballard, the clerk of the Supreme Court 
of Louisville. I valued my child ; she had been 
taken from a Rebel husband by the military." 

At last I settled in Newport, Kentucky, and 
thought I could live in some degree of happiness ; 
and the w^oman I lived in the same house with, 
Archy Mclllan's wife, wanted me to be a wash- 
woman for her ; but I refused, thinking I could 
support myself in canvassing better. Our children, 
though small as they were, had a spat. They 
w r anted me to wiiip mine, and I refused to do it, 
saying, " I supposed one was as much in fault as 
the other ; if she would use Solomon's rod with 
hers, I would with mine." She would not, neither 
would I. The next Friday night her husband came 
home intoxicated. Mrs. Jackson informed me the 
drunken wretch had put me under arrest. I knew 
she was confident that I w r as not guilty of any 
crime. Therefore I requested her to accompany 
me to the Mayor of the city. Two officers made 
their appearance, and said if I did not give them 
ten dollars they w^ould put me in jail. " If you 
do, you had better keep me there for life. I shall 
lay you two men and Archy Mclllan low, as 
soon as I come out, and the second trip I shall 
go for something." I went to the Mayor of the 
city, and he released me that night, by giving Mrs. 
Jackson as security for me to come the next 
evening at 1 o'clock, to the court-house. I em- 
ployed a Mr. Berry, a lawyer, to attend to the 
case for me. He didn't come, but sent some 
one else in his place. I thought as he had faltered 



150 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

there might be some intrigue. I refused to employ 
him, and employed Lawyer Root, Sr., and in a few 
minutes Archy excused himself to go home, and 
returned with ten dollars, and laid it in my law- 
yer's hand, and said, " I will give you that to at- 
tend to me." I felt confounded, and thought I 
shall be lodged in jail, innocent or not, but woe 
unto the one who has been the cause of it when 
I come out. I was determined to fight a duel with 
him on account of it, woman as I was, if I did 
have to go to jail. 

Lawyer Root, Jr., said, " Madam, what do you 
want?" 

" I want some one to interrogate that man for 
me ; he has brought me here innocent of a charge, 
and if he does swear different, I have four wit- 
nesses here to prove I am innocent of any charge." 

" I am a lawyer, madam — I will plead the case 
for you." 

" If you please, sir." 

The son then pleaded against the father. He in- 
terrogated according to what questions I had 
written down. 

" What did you bring Mrs. Plake here for, Mc- 
Illan?" 

" Not much of anything — to keep her from talk- 
ing." 

" Did she make use of any profane language ?" 

" I can't say that she did." 

" What did you bring her here for, then." 

"Not much of anything. Her child slapped 
my child. I won't have my little children abused, 
now, so I won't now." 

" Where did this happen ?" 

" On the corner of Front and Saratoga Streets.' 

" Well, tell something she has done to you." 

" I did tell you once." 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 151 

" Well, tell it over." 

" I did tell it, once. I asked her to go to a 
picnic the other day, and she took an insult at it. 
She told me to go with my wife — she didn't go 
with married men. I didn't know I was doing 
any harm." 

Several of them pointed at him, and there was 
such laughing in the court-house, the Mayor called 
silence. 

Each interrogation was better and better for me, 
till I began to feel like a bird let out of a fowler's 
net. I began to see where to flee for safety. The 
Junior wanted to know if I had any questions to 
ask him. I said yes. 

" Well ask him any question you want to, then." 

" Where were you, Arehy Mclllan, when these 
things occurred you are charging me with ?" 

He answered he was over in Cincinnati, in the 
Boiler Yard. 

" You took me up on hearsay evidence, then." 

" Yes," he answered, " I took her up on hear- 
say evidence." 

" Well, well," said the Mayor, " Archy, I shall 
have to put you down in the costs." 

He lost his ten dollars he laid in Senior's lap, 
and it was settled without him saying one word. 
But Junior made me a present of his charge, and 
said, u If I had any more such cases as that, to 
come to him, and he would plead it for me for 
nothing." 

Very soon the same man's wife raised a row 
with Mrs. Jackson, and she went then and got 
out a writ for her, and had me bound up in the 
peace warrant with her. I had not spoken to her, 
nor I didn't intend to ; but knowing that in 
such a case I could have no chance for justice, I 
was determined not to be taken to the court- 



152 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

house by trash again. I left Newport and went 
to Covington and waited till the writ was so many 
days old, so I eame out all right again. I thought 
best to get a place and board my child. I sent 
her from me on the 4th day of July, 1866. On 
the 5th I called to see her. No little girl ever 
seemed more desolate and broken-hearted than 
she did when she found I was going to leave her. 
She pleaded, " Oh, mamma, please let me go with 
you ; I want to go with you, so badly." 

" Daughter, don't they treat you kindly?" 

u Yes, mamma, but I want to go with you," while 
the tears were stealing down her cheeks. My heart 
throbbed with profound tenderness and sympathy, 
that none but a mother could tell, and I had to 
say, u Daughter, I have not the money to take 
you with me, won't you stay here for ma, dear, till 
I get our book printed?" Her lovely childish 
face had a sorrowful expression. Even then I was 
not wholly cast down. God is ' good and merci- 
ful. I will never cease to hope. 

Business brought me to Washington, D. C. 
From that place I went through Bath and Mont- 
gomery counties, Kentucky, with the intention to 
visit my relatives there. But I found that my 
connection with the Union cause had blotted out 
all kindred feelings in them, they being arch- 
rebels. I found it necessary, therefore, to aban- 
don home, in order to give my undivided atten- 
tion to the services I had engaged to perform, 
which step I have never once regretted. 

On my way to St. Louis, I passed through 
Frankfort and Louisville, Kentucky. I went to 
St. Louis for the purpose of having a small pam- 
phlet printed, relative to my experiences. Being 
devoid of means, I at last, after many hardships 
and trials, succeeded in getting one hundred 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 153 

copies printed, and as soon as I got the printer 
nearly paid, he took the types down. I gave the 
pamphlets in charge of a certain bookstore in St. 
Louis, and advertised for canvassers in each ward 
of the city. I had entire confidence in the parties 
keeping the bookstore mentioned, and they en- 
gaged to find canvassers for me. A few days 
after, I called at their place, but to my aston- 
ishment they declared that no one had called. 
But still I doubted not their honesty. 

After finding that my pamphlet, entitled 
u Trouble and Romance ; or, Real Life of Mrs. 
Kate Plake," met with a rapid sale, I made up 
my mind to write a larger one. The forenoons I 
employed in writing, while the afternoons I de- 
voted to canvassing, in order to enable me to 
meet my running expenses. While thus engaged, 
I came into different parts of the city, meeting 
many gentlemen, who informed me that they had 
already donated the amount of twenty-five cents to 
five dollars. I therefore became aware that there 
were certain parties in that city who, without 
being authorized by me, used my name to extort, 
under various pretexts, money from the public ; — 
some sajdng that they were owners of the pam- 
phlet and mothers of several children ; while 
others pretended that they were sent by me — 
that I was prevented through illness to canvass, 
myself, and that money was needed to support 
my child, who was at that time in the Orphan 
School at Cincinnati. These statements were 
false. I paid twenty-five cents for each book 
which the two women sold whom I employed to 
canvass for me in St. Louis. 

To further prevent the public and myself from 
being defrauded by these impostors, I now took 
every means to publish their unauthorized pro- 



154 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 

ceedings, and apprised the public that I had with- 
drawn the privilege to sell my pamphlet from 
every one except the bookstore I had first en- 
gaged. I also employed detectives to find out 
all those who sold my pamphlet without being 
authorized, my intention being to prosecute them 
through the law. 

I had left St. Louis some time for the purpose 
of canvassing in other places. On my return to 
that city, the man who printed my pamphlet 
asked me if I had commenced a suit against any 
one who had unauthorizedly sold my book. 

" Not yet," I hastily replied ; u I only fear that 
suit may fall to your lot." 

I am sorry to say to the public, that I have lost 
all confidence in the printer that printed my 
books in St. Louis, and the man that had them 
in his bookstore could not get me to place them 
in his hands again. I am only sorry to lose con- 
fidence in people I once placed so much confi- 
dence in as I did in these two men. If they had 
bestowed the favor on me they pretended to, 
they could have printed and sold all for me that 
I could have sold through the United States. I 
must say that I think harder of the parties in St. 
Louis for defrauding my friends more than the 
injury they have done me. I understand the 
same parties have made a threat that I shall 
never make anything on the publication of my 
books. I threaten in the same way they shall 
not enjoy the sum they make, if they try the 
same game. I shall very politely invite them 
into the United States court. There is none 
but E. C. Markley, of Philadelphia, on Library 
Street, allowed to print this last edition. He has 
been recommended all over this city, as a trust- 
worthy gentleman, and I am not afraid to trust 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 155 

him. The first pamphlets, no one has any right 
to print but me, and that story was only harping 
on what was to come. I know that I didn't re- 
ceive twenty-ffve dollars in St. Louis in all the 
canvassing that was done in the whole city, except 
what I sold myself. I understand the printer 
printed over and above the number I ordered, and 
placed three thousand copies in the bookstore, 
and the well-known bookseller had them sold 
under the pretence that it was for my special 
benefit. I say when they were printed I placed 
three hundred books in his bookstore to sell for 
me. I received only three dollars from him for 
all he sold for my benefit ; nearly all of the three 
hundred was returned to me, and he said he could 
not sell them. He didn't tell me though he and 
the printer had canvassers all over the city selling 
them ; and also begging for them, with the pre- 
tence it was for my benefit. They thought me a 
greenhorn, I could not tell the boundary I sold 
them in. I came out from writing my manuscript 
the city was canvassed over. The reason I did not 
put a notice in the paper then, I waited to be con- 
vinced who the impostors were that had done it. 
Little did I think that rich men would defraud 
me, and those whom I was trusting as my friends. 
I have this notice printed in self-defence. I warn 
them to be careful. 

I received some letters from the parties that 
had my child, but they didn't let me know any- 
thing particular about Myrtle. I wrote to know 
the reason of this, and they wrote me that they 
had put her in an Orphan's School, in Cincinnati. 
I wrote to the superintendent of the school, and 
he gave me this reply : 



156 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 



" Office of the Children's Home, 

19 and 21 Park Street, Cincinnati, 

lst^month 1st, 1867. 

Kate Plake, 

St. Louis, Missouri. 

Respected Friend : Thy letter of the 24th ult. 
has come to hand. The little girl, which I pre- 
sume is your child, was brought to the Home on 
the 20th of September last, by Mrs. Radly, who 
gave her name as Myrtle Grifin, and said you had 
gone down the river to try to get your book pub- 
lished — that you had been gone at that time some 
months — and they could get no word from you, 
and thought most likely you had taken the chol- 
era and died ; that she could not very well keep 
the child any long'er, and from what she had heard 
of this Institution, she thought that we would be 
more likely to find a good home for the child 
than she could. We kept her until the seventh 
of last month, and then placed her in a good home 
out of the city, as we do not intend to have our 
girls raised up as servant-girls. Since then Mr. 
Radly was here, and said he had received several 
letters from you, about the same time, and that 
you had sent him money to pay for keeping her 
whilst he had her. They sent a few clothes here, 
I do not know exactly what, as I do not have 
charge of that matter, and the lady who was then 
acting Matron is not here now. The little girl was 
quite well when she left here ; but she had the 
cholera very bad whilst here. We had no thought 
that she would get well. Her tongue was quite 
cold for some time, but she did recover. I in- 
close one of our circulars, which will explain the 
conditions upon which we place children in homes. 
If 3^ou do not feel, under the circumstances, like 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 15? 

raising the child yourself, you cannot perhaps do 
better than to leave her in our care. The family 
who have taken her have no children of their own, 
and are quite well to do in the world. 
Respectfully, thy friend, 

Daniel Hill. 

The following is the circular from the " Home." 



HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS. 



Cjje Cjjilbrtn's gome of Cincinnati, 

!Nos. 19 and 21 Park Street. 



This Institution aims to ameliorate and elevate the 
condition of children of poor and unfortunate parents: 

1st. By procuring for the homeless and destitute who 
may be committed to it, in accordance with its charter, 
permanent country homes in Christian families, where 
they shall be trained in habits of industry, and receive a 
suitable English education. They are clothed, fed, and 
instructed gratuitously as long as they remain in the In- 
stitution. 

2d. By affording a temporary home to poor children, 
whose parents thus aided, may be enabled to support them 
in a short time in homes of their own. 

3d. By rescuing from the education of the streets, so 
ruinous in its effects, many, who for the want of clothing, 
books, &c, do not attend our Public Schools ; to accom- 
plish this, a day school, under the supervision of the 
School Board, has been formed. There are now over one 
hundred such children in attendance, who have the privi- 
lege of partaking of a warm dinner each day, and cloth- 
ing is furnished to the most destitute. 



158 MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 



CONDITIONS UPON WHICH CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN 

HOMES. 

1st. The applicant must not live in a city or village. 
Homes being preferred with farmers in the country. 

2d. He is required to be a member of some evangelical 
Christian Church; as we desire the children to have the 
benefit of Christian training and example, in the family, 
the Sabbath-school, and the Church. 

3d. He is to agree to take the child into his family, 
clothe and feed it comfortably, give it good common 
school education so as to enable it to enter creditably on 
the ordinary duties of life. 

4th. He is to agree to train it up, so far as he is able, 
in the precepts of virtue and the Christian religion. 

5th. Where boys remain in the family until they are 
twenty-one years of age, and prove to be dutiful and obe- 
dient, they are to receive two hundred and fifty dollars. 
Girls at eighteen, one hundred dollars. 

6th. Where persons apply who are personally unknown 
to the superintendent, they must give city references, or 
the certificate of responsible persons of their acquaint- 
ance, setting forth their character, and the fitness of their 
family as a home for a child. 

7th. Children will be taken to their homes by the 
superintendent or the parties with whom they are to live, 
or their friends, at the expense of the applicant. 

8th. Parties having children will be expected to report 
to the superintendent every three months. 

A cordial invitation is extended to all to visit the 
"Home." 

Trustees for 1866 — Murray Shipley, President; O. 
N. Bush, Treasurer; H. H. Smith, Secretary; S. S. 
Fisher, John Shillito, B. Homans, Jr., George F. Davis, 
T. C. O'Kane. 

Managers, 1866— Mary J. Taylor, 100 Eighth Street ; 
Hannah D. Shipley, 329 Seventh Street; Hannah P. 
Smith, 437 Sixth Street ; Elizabeth L. Taylor, 100 Eighth 
Street; Lydia S. Bateman, 38 McFarland Street; Mary 
S. Johnson, 38 McFarland Street ; Harriet D. Bush, Mt. 
Auburn; Aurelia S. Fisher, Mt. Auburn; Cornelia B. 
Marsh, 35 York Street; Daniel Hill, superintendent; 
Martha Hill, Matron ; J. Fohl, Missionary. 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 159 



Since I came here to Philadelphia I met the 
gentleman that kept the prison at Alton (Alton 
Penitentiary) in 1864. At the time the Rebels 
made their escape from prison, my husband was 
among the number, and, as he reached the banks 
of the Mississippi, he received a shot which blew 
the top of his head off. His remains quietly sleep 
under the waves, unconscious of his evil. 

The following lines were cut from The Democrat, 
a paper of St. Louis, on reading a little book en- 
titled " Trouble and Romance," a life history of 
the heroine and authoress, Mrs. Kate Plake, of 
Kentucky : 

by w. J. p. 

Who has not read a tale of woman's wrong 

In romance, novel, history, or song? 

If you have not, pray read her little book ; — 

A strange wild story 'tis, and worth a look 

Into its simple pages for awhile ; 

'Twill a few hours, perhaps a day, beguile. 

'Tis a sad, sad story of her wedded life, 

Commencing with, and ending, too, in strife ! 

A lesson 'tis to all, both maid and bride, 

To wife and mother, and to man beside ; 

All hearts may learn, all minds a moral make, 

By conning o'er the history of Kate Plake. 

Her troubles first with her first husband came; 

Who reads may learn how much he was to blame: 

Enough that she was bound 

Arms, hands and foot and thus, at length, was found 

By a wild chieftain of the Indian race, 

Who gazed in pity on her woe- worn face, 

Resolving in his mind, perhaps, to be her friend; 

To cut her hempen cords, and succor lend ; 

But he came not, she never saw him more ; 

Alas ! alas 1 her troubles were not o'er. 

Bound fast and strong, as maniacs are oft, 

By her own husband tied ; her wrists so soft, 

Showing the welts of thongs too strong to break ! 

The stoutest heart might quiver too, and quake, 



160 MY BOOK OP TRUTH. 

For frail humanity, proud manhood's boast, 

When he did see a woman thus like ghost, 

Or pale " Godiva " stalking thro' the night, 

Fleeing like deer pursued — a piteous plight I 

Pursued as hounds pursue a panting doe, 

So she escaped her husband and her foe. 

She left his roof, who'd sworn for aye to love, 

And be her shield 'fore all the saints above, 

But for the offspring of her early troth, 

Her darling Myrtle, well-beloved of both, 

She back returned with many a vow to find 

Her precious treasure she had left behind ! 

Her resolutions knew no faltering fear, 

She loved her child and felt its presence dear. 

War's blast sounds o'er Kentucky's hills, 

And danger threatened her with serious ills ; 

But with a mother's yearning forth she went 

On her sad errand, wildly, madly bent! 

" My child ! my child !" in agony she cried, 

<( My child !" re-echoed caverns far and wide. 

u Give me my child," the woe- worn mother said, 

Nor sought for rest, nor asked she for bread. 

Like Rachel, comfortless she wept her child, 

Her darling Myrtle lost ! in accents wild ! 

Like Niobe all tears she wept by turns and then, 

Weeping afresh, she wandered forth again, 

Through glens and grasses rank, and tangled weeds, 

'Neath forest arches onward still she speeds ; 

By by-paths cheerless, and through lonely roads, 

Nor morass stops ; — no fear when madness goads I 

With singleness of heart and purpose brave 

She sought her child, and sought her but to save. 

Triumphant in her mission, back she came, 

Bearing the pledge of wedded love, and shame, 

Of shame, that he, her husband and her lord, 

Deserter like, had broke his plighted word, 

And left her and her babe to join the foe, 

Where treason reigned, and Price had struck the blow 

That placed Missouri ?neath the flag whose bars 

Defiant waved against the stripes and stars ! 

Base as he was — the father of her child — 

This act was basest yet, and drove her wild ! 

Forth to her loyal heart and loyal home 

She back returned to dream of days to come ; 



MY BOOK OF TRUTH. 161 

Of happier days on old Kentucky's shore 

Beneath her mother's roof, so loved of yore. 

But we propose and Heaven disposes aye : 

The eagle soars but in his flight may die ; 

A shaft, undreamed of, strikes his broad bare breast, 

He quivers, falls, and droops his kingly crest. 

He dies ! so ends the feathered monarch's dream ; 

So mortals hope, but God directs the beam ! 

The sunshine and the shade alike He rules, 

And fortune gives, or with experience schools ; 

Well know we what we are, but who can tell 

His future lot, — or know 'tis ill or well? 

Not one, I ween ; so she ne'er knew her fate, 

Nor dreamed alas ! until it was too late. 

Again in Hymen's bonds a willing wife 

She pledged her hand and gave herself for life I 

Alas I too fickle were the wedding words — 

The knot was cut as 'twere with sharpened sword3 ; 

With mutual thrust they severed Hymen's chain, 

And then our heroine was free again. 

Next in the field a Union spy we see, 

The strange adventuress, for a golden fee, 

Risks for her flag, her country, and her child, 

Her dearer self — for these she worked and toiled — 

For these, with heart heroic ventured forth 

A daring woman of the loyal North ! 

Gleaned news of import from the Eebel camps, 

And back returned through dark and dangerous swamps, 

Or where the lonely picket walked his round, 

Or weary outpost watched, or halt was found ; 

From whistling bullets she ne'er swerved an inch; 

Nor fear dismayed, nor danger made her flinch I 

In secret service thus she went her way, 

Brave as the bravest soldier in the fray. 

Her duty done and war's dread carnage o'er, 

She clasps her child, to wander forth no more. 

But with a little volume of her life, 

Defies earth's cares, its trials, and its strife ; 

Appeals for patronage and asks no more 

To feed her purse and drive want from the door. 

When thus she pleads, is there a man who hears, 

Can e'er refuse a woman's earnest prayers ? 

11 



